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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnerve
The videos shared by robot builder and researcher Logan Olson from October show the training exercise that enables a humanoid unit to suddenly drop to all fours and crawl at an unnerving speed and with unnerving flexibility.
—
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 2025
Especially unnerving this year for hoteliers was a far less robust summer than normal, so much so that nightly rates for the hotel group fell by as much as 10%, depending on the day of the week, Gleason said.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
Immigration crackdowns are unnerving a part of the population.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025
Putin seeks not only to frighten Europeans but to unnerve Americans, as well.
—Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 2025
Especially unnerving this year for hoteliers was a far less robust summer than normal, so much so that nightly rates for the hotel group fell by as much as 10%, depending on the day of the week, Gleason said.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
Immigration crackdowns are unnerving a part of the population.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025
Putin seeks not only to frighten Europeans but to unnerve Americans, as well.
—Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerve
Verb
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Because of the paralyzing fear caused by their operation, small businesses whose customer bases and workforces include immigrant community members temporarily closed due to the sharp drop in customers and fear that their businesses would be subject to CBP raids.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
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McDonald was only 20 months on the job when a 15-year-old suspect, Shavod Jones, opened fire on him in Central Park on July 12, 1986, striking McDonald in the face, neck and wrist, and paralyzing him instantly.—
Barry Williams,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some borrowers have become discouraged by the wait, experts say.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
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High speeds discourage sidewalk activity, reduce visibility for storefronts, and make outdoor dining feel risky rather than inviting.—
Tim Giuliani,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
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Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But now concerns have grown and even some of the airline’s most loyal customers are frustrated after the carrier rolled out a new boarding process to pair with the policy change.—
Dallas Morning News,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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The two upperclassmen used contrasting styles to frustrate TCU defensively.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Quote of the week Labour seem to be mystified and terrified of the bond market in equal proportions.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
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Pearl asks Sam the changeling son, appropriately terrified by the terms of such salvation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But overall, the Seahawks’ run game is far from intimidating, ranking 14th by DVOA and even worse by other advanced metrics, mostly due to an average offensive line with clear weak spots.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
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While the idea of pouring water through your nose can sound intimidating, millions of people swear by it for easing congestion and improving breathing.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Why this message is designed to scare This scam relies on presentation, not accuracy.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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That kind of stuff is fun, [and] doesn’t scare me too much.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unnerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerve. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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