unsettle
gb/ʌnsˈɛtəl/ us/ʌnsˈɛtəl/
B2
Inglês
Aceções
0 aceções
Verbo
B2
action
1
make someone feel uneasy
To make someone feel nervous or not calm.
Padrão de uso:
unsettle [someone]
Erro comum:
Often confused with settle; unsettle means the opposite (make less calm or stable).
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
reassure (Makes someone feel less worried.)
|
calm (Reduces nervousness or agitation.)
|
settle (Brings someone back to a steady, relaxed state.)
Colocações
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
Temas
emotions
|daily_life
|relationships
Exemplos
- The strange phone call unsettled her, even though nothing obvious had happened.
- The documentary unsettled me because it felt uncomfortably close to real life.
- He tried to sound friendly, but something in his tone unsettled the group.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Bad news can unsettle people.
- That sound unsettled me.
Verbo
B2
action
2
shake someone’s confidence
To make someone lose confidence or feel unsure.
Padrão de uso:
unsettle [someone] (by [something])
Erro comum:
Learners may overuse 'make nervous'; unsettle often implies reduced confidence, not just fear.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
steady (Helps someone stay calm and controlled.)
|
bolster (Strengthens confidence.)
Colocações
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
Temas
emotions
|work
|sports
Exemplos
- The aggressive questioning unsettled the witness and he began to contradict himself.
- Conceding an early goal unsettled the home side for the rest of the half.
- One negative comment was enough to unsettle her confidence before the presentation.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Hard questions can unsettle a speaker.
Verbo
C1
action
3
make a situation less stable
To make a situation less stable or more uncertain.
Padrão de uso:
unsettle [situation/system/market]
Sinónimos
destabilize (More formal/technical; emphasizes loss of stability.)
|
disrupt (Emphasizes interruption of normal functioning.)
|
throw into turmoil (Stronger; suggests chaos and confusion.)
Antónimos
stabilize (Makes a system or situation steadier.)
|
secure (Makes something safer and less risky.)
Colocações
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
Temas
business
|politics
|news
|society
Exemplos
- The unexpected election result unsettled financial markets for days.
- Rumors of layoffs unsettled the office and slowed decision-making.
- The policy change unsettled relations between the two countries.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The news unsettled the market.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
4
make an outcome no longer settled
To make people doubt a decision or result that seemed final.
Padrão de uso:
unsettle [decision/verdict/agreement/question]
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
confirm (Supports something as true or final.)
|
settle (Brings a dispute or question to a final decision.)
Colocações
unsettle a verdict
|unsettle a decision
|unsettle an agreement
|unsettle a conclusion
|unsettle the findings
|unsettle the question
|unsettle the result
|unsettle a ruling
Temas
law
|work
|news
Exemplos
- New evidence unsettled the earlier conclusion and forced a review of the case.
- The report unsettled the assumption that the project was on budget.
- Her comment unsettled the agreement they thought they had reached.
Verbo
C1
action
5
disturb something from its position
To move something so it is not steady anymore.
Padrão de uso:
unsettle [something]
Sinónimos
dislodge (Emphasizes knocking something out of place.)
|
disturb (More general; can mean slight movement or interference.)
|
loosen (Focuses on reducing tightness or firmness.)
Antónimos
secure (Fastens something so it won’t move.)
|
stabilize (Makes something steady and less likely to shift.)
Colocações
unsettle the sand
|unsettle sediment
|unsettle the dust
|unsettle a stack
|unsettle a load
|unsettle stones
|unsettle the soil
Temas
daily_life
|physical_actions
Exemplos
- The diver’s fins unsettled the sand and reduced visibility.
- The vibration from the truck unsettled the boxes in the back.
- Heavy rain unsettled the soil on the slope.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
unsettle
IPA
GB/ʌnsˈɛtəl/
US/ʌnsˈɛtəl/
Sílabas e acento
un - settle (2 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (settle)
Formas da palavra
Verb
- Base: unsettle
- 3rd Person Singular: unsettles
- Present Participle: unsettling
- Past: unsettled
Expressões
unsettle someone’s nerves
1/ʌnsˈɛtəl sˈʌmwˌʌnz nˈɚvz/
fixed phrase
make someone feel nervous
To make someone feel nervous.
Exemplos
- 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.
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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.