adjective C2 Proficient

unnerving

uhn-NUR-vihng

Unnerving (adjective) means causing someone to feel anxious or lose confidence. Example: “There was something unnerving about the way he stared without blinking.”

adjective

Causing someone to feel anxious or lose confidence.

"There was something unnerving about the way he stared without blinking."

"The empty house made an unnerving creaking sound every few minutes."

How to use unnerving

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that makes you feel uneasy or rattled just by being near it.

Common pairings

unnerving silence find it unnerving

Word forms

more unnerving comparative, most unnerving superlative

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There was something _____ about the way he stared without blinking.

Rhymes for unnerving

serving swerving deserving observing preserving

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Frequently asked questions

What does “unnerving” mean?

The word “unnerving” means causing someone to feel anxious or lose confidence. In plain terms, something that makes you feel uneasy or rattled just by being near it.

How do you pronounce “unnerving”?

“Unnerving” is pronounced uhn-NUR-vihng (/ˈʌnˈnɜːvɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “unnerving” in a sentence?

Here is “unnerving” used in a sentence: “There was something unnerving about the way he stared without blinking.”

What part of speech is “unnerving”?

“Unnerving” is an adjective.

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