disconcert
/ˌdɪskənˈsəːt
/verb [with object]
Disturb the composure of; unsettle: the abrupt change of subject disconcerted her (as adjective disconcerted) Keith looked momentarily disconcerted...
- Evelyn was momentarily disconcerted by his response, until she saw his eyes focussing on her neck.
- Suddenly they stop, disconcerted by the noise of disturbed leaves.
- Except the one night before my marriage, I'd never stayed in a hotel, and I was disconcerted when Pete leapt out of bed at 7am to get to his ship by eight.
Synonyms
unsettle, nonplus, discomfit, throw/catch off balance, take aback, unnerve, disorient, perturb, disturb, perplex, confuse, bewilder, baffle, fluster, ruffle, shake, upset, agitate, worry, dismay, put out of countenance, discountenance, discompose;
surprise, take by surprise, startle, stop someone in their tracks, put someone off (their stroke/stride), distract;
embarrass, abash
informal throw, faze, make someone scratch their head, discombobulate, rattle, set someone back on their heels, psych out
archaic cause to be at a stand, gravel
Derivatives
disconcertedly
- Gavin and the others have to crouch pretty low to make it through the main doors, and Gavin is disconcertedly reminded of his similar entrance into another hall nearly 6 months ago.
- One is left here to puzzle disconcertedly throughout this entire section over the simple but unanswered question, what is ‘it’?
- Samantha blinks disconcertedly at the sound of Amanda's amused voice.
disconcertion
- Sammi wrinkles her forehead in disconcertion.
- Brian approached, and to Aaron's disconcertion, his servant's face was gray with the pallor of death.
- The night around her was still, and might have seemed peaceful, but for her vague feelings of disconcertion.
disconcertment
Origin
Late 17th century (in the sense 'upset the progress of'): from obsolete French desconcerter, from des- (expressing reversal) + concerter 'bring together'.