1
as in unstrung
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in powerless
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in paralyzed
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discouraged
to lessen the courage or confidence of
a figure skater can't afford to be unnerved by an occasional slipup
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Recent Examples of unnerved
Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen, unnerved by talk of statewide property tax reform and a looming multiyear budget deficit, is now having second thoughts about committing all that money to a futuristic City Hall.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
Know More Claude Mythos’ unveiling — and partial release — has unnerved financial authorities, with the US Treasury secretary summoning leaders of US banks to discuss the risk to financial security, and British banking regulators doing likewise.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Viewers are also introduced to Marjorie (Blair Beeken), the activities lead at Oak Canyon Ranch, as well as Rockin’ Grandma’s sole remote worker, web designer Claire (Rachel Kaly), who appears to be terrified by the sun and wholly unnerved by other human beings.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
Since debuting in late January, Moltbook has alternately captivated and unnerved industry watchers.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Several ensuing controversies at CBS News have unnerved journalists both inside and outside the company and raised questions about her leadership.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
Irvi was enchanted and unnerved by Oaxaca’s clear blue skies, unmarred by skyscrapers.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
The research unnerved investors by imagining what would happen if AI continues to upend white-collar work.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
The Fed targets a 2% inflation rate, and officials will likely be unnerved by a steady increase.
—Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Sora unnerved the entertainment industry when it was launched in 2024, with its rapid creation of photo-quality video from text prompts.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
But their existence is an open secret, and the Iranian missile’s coming so close to the facility will have unnerved some.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
The results unnerved some, with viewers posting on social media about the uncanny quality of the interviewees.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Domingo plays the King of Pop's late, controversial father in Michael, making a physical transformation for the film that unnerved even its director.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
When the brothers came face-to-face, each wearing a vest and medallions and bell-bottoms, the mirror image unnerved them both.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Away from the lectern, the stock-market plunge—as well as concerns about the bond market and Treasury yields—had unnerved some of the president’s top aides, a White House official and a close outside adviser told us.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The Rockets were unnerved and eventually undone.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen, unnerved by talk of statewide property tax reform and a looming multiyear budget deficit, is now having second thoughts about committing all that money to a futuristic City Hall.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
Know More Claude Mythos’ unveiling — and partial release — has unnerved financial authorities, with the US Treasury secretary summoning leaders of US banks to discuss the risk to financial security, and British banking regulators doing likewise.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Viewers are also introduced to Marjorie (Blair Beeken), the activities lead at Oak Canyon Ranch, as well as Rockin’ Grandma’s sole remote worker, web designer Claire (Rachel Kaly), who appears to be terrified by the sun and wholly unnerved by other human beings.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
Since debuting in late January, Moltbook has alternately captivated and unnerved industry watchers.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Several ensuing controversies at CBS News have unnerved journalists both inside and outside the company and raised questions about her leadership.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
Irvi was enchanted and unnerved by Oaxaca’s clear blue skies, unmarred by skyscrapers.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
The research unnerved investors by imagining what would happen if AI continues to upend white-collar work.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Larsen and other entrepreneurs, unnerved by the election of democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani in New York and increasing calls across the US for taxes on wealth, fear that the measure could undo efforts to make San Francisco more business-friendly.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
The Fed targets a 2% inflation rate, and officials will likely be unnerved by a steady increase.
—Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Sora unnerved the entertainment industry when it was launched in 2024, with its rapid creation of photo-quality video from text prompts.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
But their existence is an open secret, and the Iranian missile’s coming so close to the facility will have unnerved some.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
The results unnerved some, with viewers posting on social media about the uncanny quality of the interviewees.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Domingo plays the King of Pop's late, controversial father in Michael, making a physical transformation for the film that unnerved even its director.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
When the brothers came face-to-face, each wearing a vest and medallions and bell-bottoms, the mirror image unnerved them both.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Away from the lectern, the stock-market plunge—as well as concerns about the bond market and Treasury yields—had unnerved some of the president’s top aides, a White House official and a close outside adviser told us.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerved
Adjective
-
Foster gives a taut performance despite the unstrung absurdities of the plot.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
16 Jan. 2026
-
When the Premier Lacrosse League’s Boston Cannons opened training camp back in May with unstrung lacrosse stick heads, players knew who to ask for an assist.—
Eric Jackson,
Sportico.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Without constant reinforcement, these muscles will atrophy, and when real tyranny arrives, the flabby citizen will be powerless to resist.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This verdict is a turning point for the live events industry and for every American who has felt powerless in the face of rising ticket costs.—
Letitia James,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The suspect was also shot and paralyzed, and he was later sentenced to 31 years in prison.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Though she is paralyzed from the neck down, Lucy still has some mobility in her arms, the Post reported.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Over time, patterns like these have discouraged Black residents from looking into buying a home, said Shelia Russell-Williams, president of the Real Estate Brokers of Baltimore.—
Lily Carey,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Guests at the British ambassador's residence in Washington DC are discouraged from wearing hats.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Feeling a little funky, exhausted or sore can happen for a number of reasons, including perimenopause and menopause.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Tranquility notwithstanding, Suriel was exhausted.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
By contrast, Gercke’s emasculated George speaks in the monotonous style of a man worn down by life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Squeaky voices were comic, or emasculated.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lee Cronin was both flattered and frightened when Jason Blum suggested titling his The Mummy reimagining as Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
-
When to see a doctor Ashamalla stressed that people shouldn’t be frightened by every ache or pain.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Brown has seemed to often be frustrated by his role in the team’s offense, which continued last fall as his production dipped and the offense as a whole sputtered.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The user seemingly was frustrated by Paramount‘s decision not to release the film in theaters and opting for a streaming release.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unnerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerved. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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