unsettle

verb

un·​set·​tle ˌən-ˈse-tᵊl How to pronounce unsettle (audio)
unsettled; unsettling; unsettles
Synonyms of unsettlenext

transitive verb

1
: to loosen or move from a settled state or condition : make unstable : disorder
A mild aftershock unsettled several more structures.
2
: to perturb or agitate mentally or emotionally : discompose
Such a sudden change will only unsettle her.

intransitive verb

: to become unsettled

Synonyms of unsettle

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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
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.
In reality, the situation in Indiana is completely unsettled, and White was reminded of that on Tuesday night when some fans booed her during pregame introductions ahead of the Fever's home contest against the New York Liberty. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 The barrage has caused fuel shortages in Russia, eaten into Russian refining capacity, and unsettled the Russian public. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 And the race’s constant churn—frontrunners dropping out, Crowley in then out, then back in with endorsements galore—has left the field decidedly unsettled. — Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Aug. 2026 This comes after a Texas Southern University (TSU) poll released three days earlier found Republicans still holding comfortable leads in those same races, a split that shows how unsettled the November ballot remains. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsettle

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsettle was in 1598

Rhymes for unsettle

See All Rhymes for unsettle

Browse Nearby Words

unsetting
unsettle
unsettled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsettle. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unsettle

verb
un·​set·​tle ˌən-ˈset-ᵊl How to pronounce unsettle (audio)
ˈən-
1
: to move or loosen from a settled state
2
: to make uneasy
change unsettles him

More from Merriam-Webster on unsettle

Nglish: Translation of unsettle for Spanish Speakers

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