unsettle
verb
un·set·tle
ˌən-ˈse-tᵊl 
unsettled; unsettling; unsettles
1
: to loosen or move from a settled state or condition : make unstable : disorder
2
: to perturb or agitate mentally or emotionally : discompose
: to become unsettled
Synonyms
Examples of unsettle in a Sentence
Such a sudden change will unsettle her.
the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers
Recent Examples on the Web
But the staggering casualty figures and scenes of devastation across Gaza have unsettled even Israel’s most ardent supporters, including the United States.
—
Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
In the entrancing but unsettling paradise of the villa—with its marble floors and grand staircases, shoddy electricity, and plentiful vats of wine—one of her father’s middle-aged friends began trying to seduce her.
—Leslie Jamison, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Read the full Leo Daily Horoscope Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
Expressing your deepest emotions can unsettle a close relationship today.
—USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
The airstrikes stoked fears that have unsettled Western officials for months: that Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza could escalate into a broader conflict against Syria, Iran and its proxies across the region, which could entangle allies of those involved, like Russia and the United States.
—Victoria Kim, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Bringing Shuo into their fold, the parents find themselves on newly unstable ground, unsettled but also renewed.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024
The dollar remained strong against the Japanese yen and Chinese yuan, a trend that has unsettled regulators in both Tokyo and Beijing.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
That dependability has now been replaced by vulnerability, unsettling a steadfast institution.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
With Paul and Thompson, the Warriors were able to gather themselves when things got unsettled.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024
Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
In the entrancing but unsettling paradise of the villa—with its marble floors and grand staircases, shoddy electricity, and plentiful vats of wine—one of her father’s middle-aged friends began trying to seduce her.
—Leslie Jamison, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Read the full Leo Daily Horoscope Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
Expressing your deepest emotions can unsettle a close relationship today.
—USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
The airstrikes stoked fears that have unsettled Western officials for months: that Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza could escalate into a broader conflict against Syria, Iran and its proxies across the region, which could entangle allies of those involved, like Russia and the United States.
—Victoria Kim, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Bringing Shuo into their fold, the parents find themselves on newly unstable ground, unsettled but also renewed.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024
The dollar remained strong against the Japanese yen and Chinese yuan, a trend that has unsettled regulators in both Tokyo and Beijing.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
That dependability has now been replaced by vulnerability, unsettling a steadfast institution.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
With Paul and Thompson, the Warriors were able to gather themselves when things got unsettled.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unsettle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unsettle
Cite this Entry
“Unsettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsettle. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unsettle
verb
un·set·tle
ˌən-ˈset-ᵊl
ˈən-
1
: to move or loosen from a settled state
2
: to make uneasy
change unsettles him
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