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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnerve
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
That’s why Meta’s big investment in Scale seems to have unnerved all the frontier AI companies.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
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
That’s why Meta’s big investment in Scale seems to have unnerved all the frontier AI companies.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerve
Verb
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With the House floor paralyzed, House GOP leaders announced on Tuesday that the chamber is leaving for a five-week district work period a day earlier than expected.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
22 July 2025
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House Republicans, paralyzed by internal fighting over the Jeffrey Epstein files, will embark early for a lengthy summer recess later this week after canceling votes on Thursday.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Get rid of brush piles, which may discourage them from hanging around to forage, says Pierce. Consider using grub control products on your lawn.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
18 July 2025
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About 9% of workers said their employers actively discourage them from taking all the time off they’re owed.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Stink bugs tend to drop when frightened, so fill a cup with soapy water and hold it under the stink bug.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 July 2025
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What starts as a simple favor to keep her great-niece turns into a wild Halloween night filled with jump scares and pranks — but as usual, nothing frightens her more than bad manners and disrespect. Boo 2!—
Jane LaCroix,
People.com,
13 July 2025
Verb
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Huda then confided in Amaya, claiming the chain of events the night before went a bit differently than was shown, but she, too, was frustrated.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
People.com,
14 July 2025
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Herman was particularly frustrated with Comcast upload speeds, which are much slower than the cable service's download speeds.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
14 July 2025
Verb
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The trauma of the killings left her terrified to close her eyes and sleeping in her mom’s bed for reassurance no one would harm her.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
24 July 2025
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Chuck Schumer is terrified, but that's the reality of where Democrats are today.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Goalkeepers can intimidate strikers into poor shooting decisions with a good stare-down.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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Cycling shoes can be intimidating—particularly the idea of wearing something that locks your feet right to your bike’s pedals.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
SELF,
23 July 2025
Verb
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There’s a thread of carbolic soap, though not enough to scare away those even moderately familiar with smoky Islay Scotch.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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Officials used horns, sirens and lights to scare the dogs away from Culbertson, according to KC Pet Project documents obtained by The Star.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unnerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerve. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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