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Definition of unnerve

unnerve

/ʌnˈnɜːrv/
un · nerve
Adverb:unnervingly
•
Adjective:unnerving
•
Past Simple:unnerved
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Past Participle:unnerved
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Present Participle:unnerving
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unnerve Lexical Profile

unnerve Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To cause someone to lose courage, confidence, or self-control; to make anxious or unsettled.

Example

"The sudden silence in the auditorium began to unnerve the inexperienced speaker."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for unnerve

• Nearby Words

unneedful
unneighborliness
unneighborly
unnerve
unnerving
unnervingly
unnewsworthy

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 17th century from the privative prefix 'un-' and 'nerve' (from Latin 'nervus', meaning 'sinew, tendon, or vigor'). It originally meant to deprive of physical strength before shifting to the loss of mental composure.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Unnerve. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/unnerve
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