unnerve
To make someone lose their confidence or feel worried.
unnerve in a sentence
- The silent, empty corridor unnerved Sam as he hurried to the office.
- The dog's habit of staring at the empty corner began to unnerve everyone in the room.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to unnerve?
- Areassure
- Bcomfort
- Cworry
- Dcalm
Show the answer
C: worry. The other three mean the opposite of unnerve.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to unnerve?
- Afrighten
- Bworry
- Crattle
- Dcalm
Show the answer
D: calm. The other three mean nearly the same as unnerve.
Words that mean something similar
worry, rattle, frighten
Words that mean the opposite
calm, comfort, reassure
More words about emotions & feelings
- vehement: Showing very strong, forceful feeling.
- vengeance: The act of hurting someone back for what they did to you.
- vex: To annoy or worry someone.
- vicarious: Felt by watching or hearing about what happens to someone else, rather than doing it yourself.
- weary: Very tired after long effort.
- wistful: Quietly sad because you are longing for something you cannot have.
- woe: A feeling of deep sadness or big trouble.
- wrath: Very great anger.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test