unnerving
/ˌʌnˈnɜːvɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [ənˈɚvɪŋ] /ˌʌnˈnɜːrvɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [ənˈɚvɪŋ] /ˌən-ˈnərv How to pronounce unnerve (audio)/ (ame, mw)
unnerving — 形容詞
- unnervingpositive
- more unnervingcomparative
- most unnervingsuperlative
1. making a person feel uneasy, less sure of themselves, and slightly afraid
令人不安
讓人心裡發毛又不踏實
making a person feel uneasy, less sure of themselves, and slightly afraid
The long silence after the judge's question was deeply unnerving for Hao.
法官發問後那段漫長的沉默，非常令人不安，Hao 聽了心裡一沉。
collocation: deeply unnerving
It was unnerving to hear footsteps behind Nala in the empty tunnel.
在空蕩的隧道裡聽見身後有腳步聲，對 Nala 來說很令人不安。
it is unnerving + to-infinitive
Christopher found the pilot's calm smile unnerving during the rough landing.
在顛簸降落時，機師冷靜的笑容讓 Christopher 覺得很不安。
An unnerving crack came from the ceiling above Rania's bed at midnight.
半夜裡，Rania 床上方的天花板傳來一聲令人不安的裂響。
- disturbing
stronger and often suggests something morally or emotionally troubling
- unsettling
close in meaning, but often points to a lingering loss of ease rather than a sharp jolt
- alarming
stronger and more clearly connected to danger or bad news
- creepy
more informal and usually linked to something strange or frightening
- reassuring
makes someone feel safer or less worried
- calming
reduces tension and helps someone feel peaceful again
文法句型
be unnerving
it is unnerving + to-infinitive
find + noun + unnerving
an unnerving + noun
用法筆記
The subject is usually a thing, event, sound, or expression that makes a person uneasy. Use unnerved, not unnerving, for the person's own state: 'Hao felt unnerved,' not 'Hao felt unnerving.'
常見錯誤
unnerving — 動詞
- unnervingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- unnervings3rd person singular
- unnervinging-ing form
- unnervingedpast simple
1. to make someone feel nervous, uncomfortable, or upset
使緊張
讓人心裡不安而不自在
to make someone feel nervous, uncomfortable, or upset
The way the dog kept staring at Élise unnerved her on the walk home.
那隻狗一路盯著 Élise 看，讓她回家路上一直很緊張。
odd behaviour as the subject
A low buzzing sound in the hotel room unnerved Heather all night.
旅館房間裡低低的嗡嗡聲，讓 Heather 整晚都很緊張。
The nurse's silence after the test unnerved Eitan more than the pain.
檢查後護士一直不說話，這比疼痛本身更讓 Eitan 緊張。
Dark windows in the abandoned bus unnerved Hui as the storm grew.
暴風雨越來越大時，那輛廢棄巴士黑黑的窗戶讓 Hui 感到緊張。
文法句型
something unnerves someone
用法筆記
The cause is often silence, a stare, a strange sound, or some other detail that makes a person feel uneasy. Unlike sense 2, this sense does not require the person to lose control in a public or high-pressure moment.
常見錯誤
2. to make someone lose courage or steady control, especially when they need it mos
亂陣腳
使人在關鍵時刻失去穩定與膽量
to make someone lose courage or steady control, especially when they need it most
The captain's angry stare unnerved Diego before the penalty kick.
隊長憤怒的瞪視讓 Diego 在罰球前亂了陣腳。
pressure moment: unnerved before performance
Boos from the crowd unnerved Vikram, and his speech lost its rhythm.
觀眾的噓聲讓 Vikram 亂了陣腳，講話也失去了節奏。
A sudden flash from the camera unnerved the witness on the stand.
突然亮起的閃光燈，讓證人在證人席上亂了陣腳。
The goalkeeper was unnerved by the early goal and missed two catches.
早早失球讓守門員亂了陣腳，接連漏接兩次。
- rattle
more informal and vivid; suggests a sudden hit to confidence
- disconcert
more formal; emphasizes throwing someone off mentally
- shake
broader; can refer to confidence, belief, or emotional steadiness
文法句型
something unnerves someone
be unnerved by something
用法筆記
This sense often appears in sport, public speaking, or other high-pressure moments where someone loses steadiness at a key point. It is stronger and more performance-focused than sense 1, which can describe general nervous discomfort without a visible drop in control.