unsettle
gb/ʌnsˈɛtəl/ us/ʌnsˈɛtəl/
B2
English
nyugtalanít, felzaklat, elbizonytalanít, megingat, destabilizál, megkérdőjelez, elmozdít, felkavar
VERB
B2
1
nyugtalanít
B2
felzaklat
B2
Usage pattern:
unsettle [someone]
The strange phone call unsettled her, even though nothing obvious had happened.
A furcsa telefonhívás nyugtalanította, pedig látszólag nem történt semmi.
The documentary unsettled me because it felt uncomfortably close to real life.
A dokumentumfilm nyugtalanított, mert kellemetlenül közel állt a valós élethez.
He tried to sound friendly, but something in his tone unsettled the group.
Learner examples
Bad news can unsettle people.
A rossz hír nyugtalaníthatja az embereket.
That sound unsettled me.
Az a hang nyugtalanított.
Common mistake:
Often confused with settle; unsettle means the opposite (make less calm or stable).
Meaning
make someone feel uneasy
Collocations
deeply unsettle someone
|unsettle someone greatly
|unsettle someone a little
|unsettle someone's confidence
|unsettle someone's sense of safety
|unsettle someone's mind
|unsettle someone emotionally
|unsettle someone at first
|unsettle someone badly
|unsettle someone for days
Synonyms
disturb (More general; can be emotional or physical.)
|
unnerve (Stronger focus on making someone nervous.)
|
disconcert (Slightly more formal; suggests confusion as well as discomfort.)
|
rattle (More informal; often suggests sudden loss of composure.)
Antonyms
reassure (Makes someone feel less worried.)
|
calm (Reduces nervousness or agitation.)
|
settle (Brings someone back to a steady, relaxed state.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|relationships
Definition
To make someone feel nervous or not calm.
To make someone feel worried, nervous, or uncomfortable; to disturb someone emotionally.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
unsettle [someone] (by [something])
The aggressive questioning unsettled the witness and he began to contradict himself.
Az agresszív kérdések elbizonytalanították a tanút, és ellentmondásokba keveredett.
Conceding an early goal unsettled the home side for the rest of the half.
A korai bekapott gól elbizonytalanította a hazai csapatot a félidő hátralévő részében.
One negative comment was enough to unsettle her confidence before the presentation.
Learner examples
Hard questions can unsettle a speaker.
A nehéz kérdések elbizonytalaníthatják a beszélőt.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'make nervous'; unsettle often implies reduced confidence, not just fear.
Meaning
shake someone’s confidence
Collocations
unsettle a player
|unsettle a team
|unsettle a witness
|unsettle a speaker
|unsettle someone with questions
|unsettle the opposition
|unsettle someone's composure
|unsettle someone in the interview
|unsettle someone on stage
|unsettle someone under pressure
Synonyms
rattle (Suggests a noticeable loss of composure, often sudden.)
|
shake (Common and direct; often used with 'confidence' or 'belief'.)
|
unbalance (Emphasizes throwing someone off their normal steady state.)
Antonyms
steady (Helps someone stay calm and controlled.)
|
bolster (Strengthens confidence.)
Themes
emotions
|work
|sports
Definition
To make someone lose confidence or feel unsure.
To make someone feel less confident, less certain, or less in control, often so they perform worse or hesitate.
VERB
C1
3
megingat
B2
destabilizál
C1
Usage pattern:
unsettle [situation/system/market]
The unexpected election result unsettled financial markets for days.
A váratlan választási eredmény napokra megingatta a pénzügyi piacokat.
Rumors of layoffs unsettled the office and slowed decision-making.
Az elbocsátásokról szóló pletykák felbolygatták az irodát, és lelassították a döntéshozatalt.
The policy change unsettled relations between the two countries.
Learner examples
The news unsettled the market.
A hír megingatta a piacot.
Meaning
make a situation less stable
Collocations
unsettle the market
|unsettle markets
|unsettle investors
|unsettle the economy
|unsettle the government
|unsettle the region
|unsettle relations
|unsettle public opinion
|unsettle the balance
|unsettle the status quo
Synonyms
destabilize (More formal/technical; emphasizes loss of stability.)
|
disrupt (Emphasizes interruption of normal functioning.)
|
throw into turmoil (Stronger; suggests chaos and confusion.)
Antonyms
stabilize (Makes a system or situation steadier.)
|
secure (Makes something safer and less risky.)
Themes
business
|politics
|news
|society
Definition
To make a situation less stable or more uncertain.
To make a situation, relationship, system, or market less stable, predictable, or secure.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
unsettle [decision/verdict/agreement/question]
New evidence unsettled the earlier conclusion and forced a review of the case.
Az új bizonyítékok megkérdőjelezték a korábbi következtetést, és az ügy felülvizsgálatára kényszerítettek.
The report unsettled the assumption that the project was on budget.
A jelentés megkérdőjelezte azt a feltételezést, hogy a projekt a költségkereten belül van.
Her comment unsettled the agreement they thought they had reached.
Meaning
make an outcome no longer settled
Collocations
unsettle a verdict
|unsettle a decision
|unsettle an agreement
|unsettle a conclusion
|unsettle the findings
|unsettle the question
|unsettle the result
|unsettle a ruling
Synonyms
call into question (Focuses on raising doubt rather than changing facts.)
|
undermine (Suggests weakening confidence in something over time.)
|
reopen (Often used when an official process starts again.)
Antonyms
confirm (Supports something as true or final.)
|
settle (Brings a dispute or question to a final decision.)
Themes
law
|work
|news
Definition
To make people doubt a decision or result that seemed final.
To make a decision, conclusion, or agreement no longer settled or accepted as final, by creating doubt or reopening the issue.
VERB
C1
5
Usage pattern:
unsettle [something]
The diver’s fins unsettled the sand and reduced visibility.
A búvár uszonyai felkavarták a homokot, és csökkent a látótávolság.
The vibration from the truck unsettled the boxes in the back.
A teherautó rezgése elmozdította a hátul lévő dobozokat.
Heavy rain unsettled the soil on the slope.
Meaning
disturb something from its position
Collocations
unsettle the sand
|unsettle sediment
|unsettle the dust
|unsettle a stack
|unsettle a load
|unsettle stones
|unsettle the soil
Synonyms
dislodge (Emphasizes knocking something out of place.)
|
disturb (More general; can mean slight movement or interference.)
|
loosen (Focuses on reducing tightness or firmness.)
Antonyms
secure (Fastens something so it won’t move.)
|
stabilize (Makes something steady and less likely to shift.)
Themes
daily_life
|physical_actions
Definition
To move something so it is not steady anymore.
To disturb, loosen, or dislodge something so it is no longer in a stable or settled position.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unsettle
IPA
GB/ʌnsˈɛtəl/
US/ʌnsˈɛtəl/
Syllables & stress
un - settle (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (settle)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: unsettle
- 3rd Person Singular: unsettles
- Present Participle: unsettling
- Past: unsettled
Expressions
unsettle someone’s nerves
1/ʌnsˈɛtəl sˈʌmwˌʌnz nˈɚvz/
fixed phrase
make someone feel nervous
To make someone feel nervous.
Examples
- The long silence on the phone unsettled my nerves.
- Noise from the construction site really unsettled her nerves.
- He tried not to show it, but the sudden change of plan unsettled his nerves.
Learner examples
- The loud sound unsettled my nerves.
unsettle the balance of power
1/ʌnsˈɛtəl ðə bˈæləns əv pˈaʊɚ/
fixed phrase
disrupt power balance
To change who has control in a way that creates instability.
Examples
- The new alliance unsettled the balance of power in the region.
- Rapid technological change can unsettle the balance of power between competitors.
- The leader’s sudden resignation unsettled the balance of power inside the party.
unsettle the markets
1/ʌnsˈɛtəl ðə mˈɑɹkɪts/
fixed phrase
business
cause market uncertainty
To make investors worried so prices move a lot.
Examples
- The surprise interest-rate cut unsettled the markets.
- Trade tensions have continued to unsettle the markets this week.
- A single rumor can unsettle the markets in uncertain times.
unsettle the status quo
1/ʌnsˈɛtəl ðə stˈætəs kwˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
disrupt existing arrangement
To disturb the way things normally are.
Examples
- The new policy is expected to unsettle the status quo in the industry.
- Her candid questions unsettled the status quo at the meeting.
- Even small reforms can unsettle the status quo if people feel threatened.