unnerve

verb

ˌən-ˈnərv How to pronounce unnerve (audio)
Definition of unnervenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb unnerve differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unnerve are emasculate, enervate, and unman. While all these words mean "to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action," unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act.

unnerved by the near collision

When can emasculate be used instead of unnerve?

In some situations, the words emasculate and unnerve are roughly equivalent. However, emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential.

an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

Where would enervate be a reasonable alternative to unnerve?

The words enervate and unnerve are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort.

a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure

When is unman a more appropriate choice than unnerve?

The synonyms unman and unnerve are sometimes interchangeable, but unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit.

a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unnerve But the brazen attack on four people sleeping last Thursday morning unnerved him. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025 Their unceremonious removal and the arrival of new unknown personnel in leadership has unnerved the employees who remain while at the same time increasing their workload. — Belinda Luscombe, TIME, 1 Feb. 2025 At the same time, a torrent of misinformation on Musk’s platform – plenty of it born from anger over high levels of migration – has unnerved Europe’s governments. — Rob Picheta, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025 The reports of arson and explicit graffiti have unnerved a nation that prides itself on being a multicultural and tolerant society and where a third of the population was born overseas. — Victoria Kim, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unnerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerve
  1. paralyze
  2. discourage
  3. frighten
  4. frustrate
  5. terrify
  6. intimidate
  7. scare
Verb
  • Don’t let minor risks paralyze major opportunities. 5.
    — Aslak de Silva, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The memos, also obtained by ProPublica, estimated that up to 166,000 people would die from malaria due to the cuts, while 200,000 children would be paralyzed by polio.
    — Dan Cody, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of paralyze
Verb
  • All of our drug policies must remain oriented toward discouraging drug use.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Stomach cramps: Not eating enough food can cause stomach pain or cramps, which may also discourage eating.
    — Sherri Gordon, Parents, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of discourage
Verb
  • Seeing those kinds of numbers in headlines may have started to frighten U.S. consumers, data shows.
    — Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 4 Mar. 2025
  • While full autonomy may frighten many, most drivers do still want automakers to focus on safety tech.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of frighten
Verb
  • Any armchair sleuths hoping to test their clue-cracking skills will be left similarly frustrated by the fact breadcrumbs are practically non-existent throughout.
    — Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2025
  • In battle royale games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone, death is an immediate elimination, which can frustrate streamers trying to get exciting footage for their viewers — and there’s nothing more exciting than a win.
    — Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of frustrate
Verb
  • No matter what your views are on Israel & Palestine, we should all be terrified of a government incarcerating its residents for their political opinions.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Carolina Waterfowl Rescue has a history of rescuing snakes from predicaments in the region, including the venomous species that seem to terrify the public.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of terrify
Verb
  • Trump files spurious lawsuits to force his targets to defend themselves financially and legally and intimidate others from crossing him — or to surrender and settle, as ABC News did.
    — Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Trying to circumvent that process by removing or intimidating a judge – with violence or with impeachment – could endanger both judges and their families, and American democracy, experts and legal scholars say.
    — Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of intimidate
Verb
  • Higher prices and looming economic uncertainty could scare off consumers, experts previously told ABC News.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Mozer yelled out of his apartment window, scaring Moseley off.
    — Jessica Sager, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of scare

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Cite this Entry

“Unnerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerve. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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