Synonyms

unnerve

American

[uhn-nurv] / ʌnˈnɜrv /

verb (used with object)

unnerved, unnerving

to deprive of courage, strength, determination, or confidence; upset.

Fear unnerved him.

unnerve British

/ ʌnˈnɜːv /

verb

(tr) to cause to lose courage, strength, confidence, self-control, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of unnerve

First recorded in 1595–1605; un- ² + nerve

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Treacy at Apex sees any change in the Fed’s language around the risk of inflation due to geopolitical conflict as likely to unnerve investors.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

Energy turmoil could unnerve investors already worried about how much tech companies are spending on data centers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

If Musk moves ahead with the idea much of that $35 billion could come from his Tesla stake, which would unnerve investors for a while.

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

The Dodgers seemed to finally unnerve the Jays in the sixth when singles by Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández with one out shoved starter Shane Bieber to the dugout.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025

Some came in the form of headlines that would unnerve any parent concerned about where his college-age children are going to fit in.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023