disconcert
verb
transitive verb
Synonyms
- abash
- confound
- confuse
- discomfit
- discountenance
- embarrass
- faze
- fluster
- mortify
- nonplus
- rattle
Example Sentences
Bonnie Kristian, TheWeek, 12 Apr. 2020 The reasons for these paper profits are disconcerting. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2020 Parents have watched changes in their teens that have been disconcerting. Sara Miller Llana, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2020 In Moscow, the lack of snow has been disconcerting. Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 28 Feb. 2020 Of course, there are odd moments, hard moments, disconcerting moments. Nell Frizzell, refinery29.com, 23 Feb. 2020 The line needs to play better and more physical, and its performance through five games has to be disconcerting for Nagy and offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. Brad Biggs, chicagotribune.com, 10 Oct. 2019 The silence of most of the bishops in the Catholic Church on this embarrassing but destructive mixture of progressivism, reflexive activism, and casual dismissal of the deepest wisdom of the Church is disconcerting. Daniel J. Mahoney, National Review, 6 Feb. 2020 To be eliminated before that round even began made watching the weekend’s games disconcerting, as if the Patriots were some sort of football ghost limb, still there in our minds and emotions but absent in all reality. Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Jan. 2020 See More Word History
obsolete French disconcerter, alteration of Middle French desconcerter, from des- dis- + concerter to concert
1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
disconcert
verb
disconcert
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- embarrass
- confuse
- fluster
- rattle
- unsettle
- discomfit
- disturb
- abash
- nonplus
- bother
- confound
- upset
- mortify
- faze
- distress
- perturb
- humiliate
- discomfort
- disquiet
- discountenance
- dismay
- discompose
- chagrin
- agitate
- unhinge
- shame
- queer
- humble
- demean
- debase
- degrade
- put off
- put out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- relieve
- soothe
- comfort
- calm
- encourage
- console
- cheer
- assure
- reassure
- hearten
- embolden
- buoy
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of disconcert are abash, discomfit, embarrass, and rattle. While all these words mean "to distress by confusing or confounding," disconcert implies an upsetting of equanimity or assurance producing uncertainty or hesitancy.
The meanings of abash and disconcert largely overlap; however, abash presupposes some initial self-confidence that receives a sudden check, producing shyness, shame, or a feeling of inferiority.
The words discomfit and disconcert can be used in similar contexts, but discomfit implies a hampering or frustrating accompanied by confusion.
In some situations, the words embarrass and disconcert are roughly equivalent. However, embarrass implies some influence that impedes thought, speech, or action.
Although the words rattle and disconcert have much in common, rattle implies an agitation that impairs thought and judgment.