unsettle
/' n'setl/
Definition
- Verb:
- To disturb the composure, peace, or stability of someone or something; to make someone feel anxious, uncertain, or uneasy.
- To cause something to become unstable, disordered, or uncertain.
Usage and Examples
- Verb:
- The sudden noise unsettled the baby, and she began to cry. (The noise disturbed the baby's calm state.)
- The constant changes in management unsettle the entire staff. (The changes cause the staff to feel uneasy and uncertain.)
- His strange questions unsettled me during the interview. (His questions disturbed my composure and made me anxious.)
Advanced Usage
- "to unsettle the market": to cause instability or uncertainty in a financial market.
- The unexpected election results unsettled the stock market.
- "an unsettling experience": an experience that causes feelings of anxiety or unease. (Note: This uses the derived adjective 'unsettling'.)
- Watching the documentary was an unsettling experience.
Variants and Related Words
- Unsettled (adjective): Not calm, stable, or certain.
- The unsettled weather forced us to cancel the picnic.
- She felt unsettled about the future.
- Unsettling (adjective): Causing anxiety or uneasiness; disturbing.
- He told an unsettling story about his travels.
- Unsettlement (noun): The state of being unsettled; disturbance. (This is a less common noun form.)
Synonyms
- Disturb: To interrupt the quiet, rest, or peace of.
- Disconcert: To throw into confusion or embarrass; to perturb.
- Upset: To disturb mentally or emotionally; to distress.
- Perturb: To cause to be alarmed, agitated, or upset.
Antonyms
- Settle: To place in a desired state of calm or order.
- Calm: To make tranquil or quiet.
- Reassure: To restore to confidence or relieve from anxiety.
Phrasal Verbs and Common Collocations
- Unsettle someone's nerves: To make someone feel nervous or anxious.
- The loud construction noise really unsettles my nerves.
- Unsettle the balance: To disrupt a state of equilibrium.
- Introducing a new predator could unsettle the ecosystem's balance.
Related Idioms and Expressions
- To feel unsettled: To feel anxious, uneasy, or not at peace.
- Ever since the argument, I've felt deeply unsettled.
- An unsettling thought: A thought that causes worry or discomfort.
- It's an unsettling thought that we might not be alone in the universe.
Verb
-
disturb the composure of
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