unnerved 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in unstrung

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2
as in powerless

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unnerved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of unnerve
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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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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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 unnerved
Adjective
Meta's results unnerved investors who worried about the sustainability of the social media giant's AI spending plans. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 The Warner scenario, which would have stocked Netflix with storied properties like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and DC characters, is an interesting what-if, though the company’s pursuit alone unnerved investors given the price tag. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026 Yet the snap decision to have Danantara take over exports—announced by Prabowo in May—has unnerved analysts who worry about encroaching state control of the economy, as well as at the sovereign wealth fund. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 Some investors balked at its lack of a track record, while others were unnerved by Volta’s reliance on Anthropic to buy much of the data center’s compute. — Ellen Dimauro, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026 One car caught fire; another just kept driving until its unnerved passengers requested to end the ride. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Regardless of their opinion about Denmark, Greenlanders are becoming aware of, and are unnerved by, this semi-covert, sometimes glaringly obvious American pressure. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026 The high number of departures unnerved portions of the fanbase, but the staff had a plan that resulted in an incoming group of transfers that can make an immediate impact this season. — Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The resultant sonic boom shock waves frequently shattered windows, cracked building walls, and unnerved citizens within earshot. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 July 2026
Verb
Treasury yields were lower despite the hot inflation report as investors unnerved by a drop in AI stocks flocked into the safety of bonds. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 The earthquakes left many in the Andean nation unnerved after two back-to-back quakes devastated neighboring Venezuela in late June, destroying hundreds of buildings and killing more than 6,300 people. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 Trump’s recent clashes with Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war have also unnerved some young conservatives. — Charlie Sabgir, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 Perhaps coincidentally, OpenAI is considering delaying its IPO, The New York Times reported, with executives unnerved by SpaceX’s volatile debut and stock-market choppiness. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 26 June 2026 The baby boomer bank leader took to LinkedIn to admit that his words had unnerved some of his coworkers. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 May 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnerved
  1. unstrung
  2. powerless
  3. frightened
  4. discouraged
  5. exhausted
  6. emasculated
  7. terrified
  8. frustrated
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
Definition of unstrung
Adjective
  • Halo 4, 5, and Infinite used sci-fi nonsense to transform him into this larger-than-life figure, rendering the rest of the UNSC largely powerless in the process.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Trump could decide that appearing powerless as Iranian attacks push up prices is more damaging than another round of military strikes.
    — Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of powerless
Verb
  • Guitarricadelafuente said he was initially frightened by the prospect of acting in La Bola Negra.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Douglas admitted that his father’s behavior left him and brother Joel frightened.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of frightened
Verb
  • One card was from a Syrian woman whose family discouraged her from sitting for an on camera to share her experiences as a refugee – so Sachs settles for filming a tribute to the woman’s cooking skills.
    — Will Tizard, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The coroner strongly discouraged him from viewing the remains.
    — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of discouraged
Adjective
  • The thematic and stylistic proclivities of the collective had barely been uncovered, much less exhausted, during my time with them.
    — Nolan Kelly, Artforum, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Her physicality is that of a -longsuffering, exhausted parent.
    — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • President Penn and her husband Todd (Whitford) get to throw down now and then, as a husband who already feels emasculated has to sit and watch his wife recede into bitter militance.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
  • And that’s the main tension this season, as Beau is feeling emasculated by the dynamic.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of emasculated
Verb
  • Afterward, the boy was terrified of the police, said his mother, Colette James.
    — Rosie Cima, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • By this point, the audience knows the monster a little too well to be properly terrified of her.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrified
Verb
  • The tight margins, after campaigning by both sides, show the measure is a tricky one for Californians who value environmental protections but are frustrated by the state’s high housing and utility costs, Baldassare said.
    — Andrew Graham October 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Some of his closest Middle East advisers, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, had grown frustrated with the Israeli leader.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of frustrated

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Cite this Entry

“Unnerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnerved. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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