as in disturbs
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers
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Recent Examples of unsettles
But Hyd unsettles this arrangement with their deadpan affect, playing the part of a mourning truth-seeker trying to live in the moment.
—
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026
Her healing skills soon prove invaluable, but her wild, curious nature unsettles the monks as an evil count threatens to destroy anyone who dares protect her.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 19 May 2026
His decision to pull out of the house sales upends an entire property chain, as his manipulative nature unsettles those around him.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 May 2026
After a chance encounter with a group of influencers in their twenties who are passing through town, Ernie invites them into his home – a decision that unsettles the fragile world he’s spent years trying to exist within.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2026
An unexpected visitor at the ER later unsettles both patients and staff.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s because Texas terrorizes people from start to finish with its tenacious, arm-waving, in-your-face defense that completely unsettles opponents and takes them out of their offense.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
What unsettles us, though, is a pause.
—Essence, 3 Mar. 2026
The entrance of Thea Elvsted (Celeste Arias), a school girl acquaintance, both unsettles and diverts Hedda.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026
Her healing skills soon prove invaluable, but her wild, curious nature unsettles the monks as an evil count threatens to destroy anyone who dares protect her.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 19 May 2026
His decision to pull out of the house sales upends an entire property chain, as his manipulative nature unsettles those around him.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 May 2026
After a chance encounter with a group of influencers in their twenties who are passing through town, Ernie invites them into his home – a decision that unsettles the fragile world he’s spent years trying to exist within.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2026
An unexpected visitor at the ER later unsettles both patients and staff.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s because Texas terrorizes people from start to finish with its tenacious, arm-waving, in-your-face defense that completely unsettles opponents and takes them out of their offense.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
What unsettles us, though, is a pause.
—Essence, 3 Mar. 2026
The entrance of Thea Elvsted (Celeste Arias), a school girl acquaintance, both unsettles and diverts Hedda.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettles
Verb
-
Regardless, there’s a clear symbolism to Clark empathizing and embracing a bloated externalization of his own inchoate fury until someone with an outside perspective disturbs his peace, and that fury breaks loose and devours him.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
That brings us to the part of the ShotSpotter discussion that perhaps disturbs us most.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
What bothers me still is the Maloofs or (current ownership) never honored Rick with a special night.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
Shields added at the time that she's learned to speak up when something bothers her rather than assuming her spouse can read her mind.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Mother’s explosion distracts Blaine and frees Sam.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
-
In my view, platforming these young men and sensationalizing their behaviors, rather than recognizing those behaviors as signs of psychological distress, distracts from the urgent need to address these serious mental health concerns.—
Jordyn Tovey,
The Conversation,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
His comments come as concerns mount over the possibility of AI replacing jobs and worries that the tech is moving too quickly.—
Annie Palmer,Samantha Subin,Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
1 June 2026
-
Wall Street worries the Fed is wildly off course in fighting inflation.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Spielberg’s latest, like some of his earliest and most beloved films, again concerns what might fall from above.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
-
The closest analog to what Blue Origin is attempting to do, therefore, concerns the rebuild of Space Launch Complex-40, which was largely destroyed by the AMOS-6 failure.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
He becomes increasingly consumed by the otherworldly dimension, which alarms his therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve).—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
-
The focal point of escalating concern is oldest son Jeremy (Edik Beddoes) whose increasingly erratic behavior alarms those around him, not only for his safety but others as well.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Set in 1986, the story follows two brothers, Irwin and Gary Pearl, whose get-rich scheme to help clean up the Gowanus Canal ends in disaster after Irwin (Teller), a nebbish family man, angers Russian mobsters by unwittingly witnessing their criminal activity.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
17 May 2026
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LaCava said the change seems like another city policy that angers many residents without major impact.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The machine dryer agitates the clothing and prevents fibers from stiffening during drying, which is why clothing comes out feeling soft.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
23 Feb. 2026
-
This agitates me and my lead foot.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsettles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettles. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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