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
A mild aftershock unsettled several more structures.
2
: to perturb or agitate mentally or emotionally : discompose
Such a sudden change will only unsettle her.
: to become unsettled
Synonyms of unsettle
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
For Iran, the UAE is a prime location where strikes can simultaneously pressure Washington, disrupt global energy flows, unsettle international finance and corporates, and generate worldwide attention.
—
Emma Graham, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026
Right now Orlando City appears unsettled.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
What unsettled me more than the cat was this man’s patience.
—Jennifer Wolfgram, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Until that point in the game, Arsenal had not done much to unsettle their hosts in attack, apart from Gabriel Martinelli hitting the crossbar with one effort.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettle
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Emma Graham, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026
Right now Orlando City appears unsettled.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
What unsettled me more than the cat was this man’s patience.
—Jennifer Wolfgram, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Until that point in the game, Arsenal had not done much to unsettle their hosts in attack, apart from Gabriel Martinelli hitting the crossbar with one effort.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsettle
Cite this Entry
“Unsettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsettle. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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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