unsettle
verb
un·set·tle
ˌən-ˈse-tᵊl 
unsettled; unsettling; unsettles
1
: to loosen or move from a settled state or condition : make unstable : disorder
2
: to perturb or agitate mentally or emotionally : discompose
: to become unsettled
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
Jalen Brunson endured physical play in the Knicks’ 100-94 Game 2 loss to the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on Monday, alarming fans with another brief but unsettling late-game exit.
—
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
And while terrifying movies are typically critic-proof at the box office, audiences tend to leave the theater feeling unsettled, which translates to poor exit polls.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
Her thorough explanations of medical situations comfort some patients, but unsettle others.
—Sarah Kurchak, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
The bidders’ profile means the player is more likely to be unsettled, but if there is no agitation for a move, the selling club can weaponise the interested clubs’ wealth against each other to set the asking price eye-wateringly high.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsettle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
And while terrifying movies are typically critic-proof at the box office, audiences tend to leave the theater feeling unsettled, which translates to poor exit polls.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
Her thorough explanations of medical situations comfort some patients, but unsettle others.
—Sarah Kurchak, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
The bidders’ profile means the player is more likely to be unsettled, but if there is no agitation for a move, the selling club can weaponise the interested clubs’ wealth against each other to set the asking price eye-wateringly high.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsettle
Cite this Entry
“Unsettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsettle. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share