unsettle

verb

un·​set·​tle ˌən-ˈse-tᵊl 

unsettled; unsettling; unsettles

transitive verb

1

: to loosen or move from a settled state or condition : make unstable : disorder

2

: to perturb or agitate mentally or emotionally : discompose

intransitive verb

: to become unsettled

Synonyms

• agitate
• ail
• alarm
• alarum
• bother
• concern
• derail
• discomfort
• discompose
• dismay
• disquiet
• distemper
• distract
• distress
• disturb
• exercise
• flurry
• frazzle
• freak (out)
• fuss
• hagride
• perturb
• undo
• unhinge
• upset
• weird out
• worry

Examples of unsettle in a Sentence

Such a sudden change will unsettle her.

the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers

Recent Examples on the Web

The trip comes as the president has left the question of additional disaster aid for California unsettled. —Zolan Kanno-Youngs, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025

Still, the increasing rhetoric has some government workers nationwide unsettled. —Terry Collins, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2025

And many will be unsettled, in multiple ways, for years to come. —Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025

Jota, in contrast, buzzed around with intent and unsettled Forest’s defence with his movement and combative edge. —James Pearce, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

unsettle

verb

un·​set·​tle ˌən-ˈset-ᵊl 

ˈən-

1

: to move or loosen from a settled state

2

: to make uneasy

change unsettles him