disconcerted

/,diskən'sə:tid/

Thân thiện

The unexpected question left him feeling disconcerted.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Feeling unsettled, confused, or embarrassed: Describes a state where one's composure or self-possession is disturbed, often due to something unexpected, surprising, or awkward, leading to a temporary loss of confidence or calmness.

Usage

• The adjective "disconcerted" describes a person's emotional or mental state. It is typically used to describe how someone feels or appears.
• It is often followed by prepositions like "by" or "at" to indicate the cause of the feeling (e.g., disconcerted by the news).
• It can be used both attributively (before a noun) and predicatively (after a linking verb like , , , ).

Examples

• Attributive use (before a noun):
  • The disconcerted student forgot his lines during the presentation.
  • She gave a disconcerted laugh when she realized her mistake.
• Predicative use (after a linking verb):
  • He felt deeply disconcerted by the sudden change in plans.
  • The team looked disconcerted after their star player was injured.
  • I was disconcerted at his blunt question.

Advanced Usage

• "to be disconcerted to find/see/hear...": Used to express the specific cause of the unsettled feeling.
  • She was disconcerted to find her office completely rearranged.
• "disconcerted by the lack of...": Highlights a cause related to an absence of something expected.
  • The interviewer was disconcerted by the candidate's lack of preparation.

Variants and Related Words

• Disconcert (verb): To disturb the composure of; to fluster or perturb someone.
  • The loud noise disconcerted the speaker.
• Disconcerting (adjective): Causing feelings of unease, confusion, or embarrassment.
  • His disconcerting stare made everyone uncomfortable.
• Disconcertingly (adverb): In a manner that causes unease or confusion.
  • The room was disconcertingly quiet.

Synonyms

• Flustered: Nervous or confused, typically from stress or embarrassment.
• Perturbed: Anxious or unsettled.
• Nonplussed (primarily in British English): So surprised and confused that one is unsure how to react.
• Discomfited: Made uneasy or embarrassed.
• Rattled: Nervous, worried, or irritated.

Antonyms

• Composed: Having one's feelings and expression under control; calm.
• Poised: Having a composed and self-assured manner.
• Unperturbed: Not concerned or worried.
• Unflappable: Having or showing calmness in a crisis.

Idioms and Phrases

• "Thrown for a loop": (Informal idiom) To be very surprised, confused, or disconcerted.
  • The unexpected news threw him for a loop.
• "Knocked off balance": To cause someone to become disconcerted or confused.
  • The tough question knocked the debater off balance.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having self-possession upset; thrown into confusion
   • the hecklers pelted the discombobulated speaker with anything that came to hand
   • looked at each other dumbly, quite disconcerted- G.B.Shaw

Từ đồng nghĩa

• discombobulated