as in to disturb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unsettle
Back at the school, staff and students were unsettled.
—
Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Still, the advent of the star unsettles these familiar pathways.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
And further details around how the money would be divided across everyone from maximum-salary stars to minimum-deal vets remain largely unsettled.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 22 Jan. 2026
But things are about to go from bad to nightmare, as a group of armed robbers wearing unsettling facial prosthetics descend upon Lochmill.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettle
Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Still, the advent of the star unsettles these familiar pathways.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
And further details around how the money would be divided across everyone from maximum-salary stars to minimum-deal vets remain largely unsettled.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 22 Jan. 2026
But things are about to go from bad to nightmare, as a group of armed robbers wearing unsettling facial prosthetics descend upon Lochmill.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettle
Verb
-
Mist the soil instead of overhead watering, which can disturb the seeds.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Managing the genetic health of such a small population is essential for the species’ long-term viability, and the hair-collection method offers a noninvasive way to gather vital data without disturbing the wombats in their burrows.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
They were seen by the clergy, for example, to be distracted by chocolate, drinking it and gossiping instead of paying attention to mass.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
State transportation officials argued that street art is distracting and can pose a risk to drivers.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Andrew Musgrave crossed the finish line in cross-country skiing today in a tank top, and the cold didn’t seem to bother him one bit.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
My damp clothes didn’t bother either one of us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But that's not really what alarms me, someone making money off of military advancements.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Officials across the country received the invitation, which has alarmed some of its recipients, according to numerous media outlets.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Pentagon worries that an expanding Chinese arsenal could be a prelude to invading Taiwan or an attempt to beat America's missile defenses, Panda said.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Other recent departures underscore the tension between some researchers worried about safety and top executives eager to generate revenue.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even before revelations about the emails, there were tensions between Wasserman and some Los Angeles politicians concerned that financial shortfalls in staging the $7-billion Summer Games will need to be covered by local taxpayers.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Turns out, his son was concerned for the safety of his classmates from Guatemala and Cambodia.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Avoid getting agitated over something too unimportant to matter.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Use your hands to agitate the soapy water through the garment.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettle. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
