unnerve

verb

un·​nerve ˌən-ˈnərv 

unnerved; unnerving; unnerves

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of courage, strength, or steadiness

2

: to cause to become nervous : upset

unnervingly

ˌən-ˈnər-viŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• demoralize
• emasculate
• paralyze
• undo
• unman
• unstring

Choose the Right Synonym for unnerve

unnerve, enervate, unman, emasculate 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

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

unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit.

a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential.

an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

Examples of unnerve in a Sentence

Seeing the police in there unnerved me.

She was unnerved by his strange manner.

Recent Examples on the Web

It was released the following year and has been unnerving audiences ever since. —Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Sep. 2024

Your tenacity and insight will unnerve anyone trying to outmaneuver you or get in your way. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2024

Advertisement California Kratom products have gone unregulated in California, unnerving both fans and critics April 29, 2024 Kratom advocacy groups were split over the California bill. —Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024

The potential for blowback and litigation has unnerved the private sector. —Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

unnerve

verb

un·​nerve ˌən-ˈnərv 

ˈən-

unnerved; unnerving

: to deprive of nerve, courage, or self-control

the accident unnerved me