1
as in to paralyze
to deprive of courage or confidence
the riding accident so unnerved me that for a while I was afraid to get back on a horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of
a figure skater can't afford to be unnerved by an occasional slipup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in disturbing
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the unnerving news of yet another murder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in paralyzing
to deprive of courage or confidence
the riding accident so unnerved me that for a while I was afraid to get back on a horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of
a figure skater can't afford to be unnerved by an occasional slipup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnerve
Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
Luckily, this particular bear in the viral TikTok video, while unnerving in its closeness, did not exhibit signs of aggression or predatory behavior, ultimately leaving the hiker alone after stopping by a stream.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
The board’s failure to act courageously sent shockwaves through the organization, resulting in an unstable interim period that unnerved both shareholders and employees.
—Keith D. Dorsey, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
But the chaotic nature of Trump’s first term upset his opponents and unnerved his softer supporters.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Verb
By then, Trump had been reelected, unnerving many in the liberal city over his promise to enact the largest mass deportation operation in American history.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
Luckily, this particular bear in the viral TikTok video, while unnerving in its closeness, did not exhibit signs of aggression or predatory behavior, ultimately leaving the hiker alone after stopping by a stream.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
The board’s failure to act courageously sent shockwaves through the organization, resulting in an unstable interim period that unnerved both shareholders and employees.
—Keith D. Dorsey, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
But the chaotic nature of Trump’s first term upset his opponents and unnerved his softer supporters.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerve
Adjective
-
This is a disturbing statistic and speaks to an increase in the total number of people defacing themselves, but also a rise in the amount of ink per person.—
Scott Liftman,
Boston Herald,
25 July 2025
-
The board of the Regional Transportation Authority met Friday to discuss ways to respond to the cut, striking a note of optimism to counter the disturbing prediction for Tri-Rail’s future.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
Pico’s other headsets are not sold in North America and ByteDance and the Trump administration have an uneasy relationship at best.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
15 July 2025
-
The carpenters’ stance has created a split in the labor movement that makes lawmakers uneasy and sometimes spills into public view.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
It’s had a number of harrowing trailers and is now releasing full clips that the internet is finding deeply unsettling.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
-
Tell me what were some of the other possibilities that were floated to deal with this unsettling initial singularity?—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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One client shared how a simple practice of pausing to name their emotion before responding in a tense board meeting helped de-escalate conflict and steer the conversation toward collaboration.—
Maureen Metcalf,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Trump's trade deals with many countries—perhaps most notably China and the European Union—remain in tense negotiations, each one potentially affecting their manufacturing costs.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
With Iran and its proxies diminished and Gulf states anxious to diversify their economies, any prospect for broader peace and normalization runs through Riyadh.—
Edward Felsenthal,
Time,
23 July 2025
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This is their first major sit-down interview together, and both are a bit anxious.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Joe Mazur, senior analyst at Trivium China, a research and advisory firm, said the use of exit bans and the lack of clarity around specific cases will make foreign companies extremely nervous about sending staff to China, damaging overall business confidence.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
23 July 2025
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All 11 brought home at least one full point in Rome, the result of their talent but also of a cohesive approach where veteran Justin Rose was willing to be paired with nervous rookie Robert MacIntyre in fourball and sit the foursomes sessions.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Written about British occultist Aleister Crowley and released in the United States a year after Osbourne’s album debuted, the song projected creepy organ sounds straight from Dracula’s coffin before monster guitar playing from Rhoades drove a stake through any sympathy for the devil.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
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Others are not so great—like week-long heat advisories and unwelcome house guests in the form of creepy, crawly millipedes.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Any more info would spoil a twisty, richly visual tale, yet Pacino is upfront that the film’s claustrophobic feelings were a result of feeling creatively restless during COVID.—
William Earl,
Variety,
24 July 2025
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Since college dorm rooms often lack temperature control (hello, restless nights), the removable fabric cover offers moisture-wicking properties that actively pull heat away from the body, allowing your student to stay cool and comfortable.—
Cheryl Fenton,
Parents,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unnerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerve. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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