Unnerving: meaning, definitions and examples

Best for situations where something makes you feel anxious or worried, causing a loss of confidence or calmness.

• The sudden loud noise in the middle of the night was quite unnerving.
• Her intense stare was unnerving, making it difficult to concentrate.

Appropriate for scenarios where something causes emotional distress or worry, often referring to something deeply troubling or distressing.

• The news about the war was deeply disturbing.
• I found the graphic images in the documentary quite disturbing.

Used when something causes you to feel uneasy or worried, often in a way that disrupts your sense of peace or stability.

• The silence in the abandoned house was unsettling.
• There was something unsettling about the way he smiled.

Used when something causes discomfort or confusion, disrupting your composure or causing you to be unsettled.

• The unexpected question at the interview was disconcerting.
• The change in his tone was disconcerting, and I wasn't sure how to respond.