disconcert
/ˌdɪs.kənˈsɜːt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To make someone feel worried, confused, or less confident. It often happens when a situation suddenly feels awkward or unexpected.
- Her question disconcerted me.
- The delay disconcerted the whole team.
- His calm tone disconcerted the interviewer.
Adinary Nuance
Disconcert is stronger and more specific than upset or surprise. It suggests that something makes you uneasy, awkward, or momentarily unsure of yourself. Writers often choose it when a situation feels emotionally unsettling, not just surprising.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- làm bối rối
- Spanish
- desconcertar
- Chinese
- 使不安
- Japanese
- 当惑させる
- Korean
- 당황하게 하다
Etymology
Disconcert came into English in the late 16th century from French disconcerter, meaning “to disturb” or “throw out of order.” The word keeps that idea of upsetting someone’s ease or confidence.
Common phrases
disconcerting silencea disconcerting smiledisconcerted lookdisconcerted by something
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is disconcert formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal and common in writing, news, and spoken English.
- What is the difference between disconcert and confuse?
- Disconcert means to make someone uneasy or less confident. Confuse means to make someone unsure what something means.
- Can I use disconcert in business writing?
- Yes. It is useful when a meeting, delay, or comment makes people uneasy.
- Is disconcert a common word?
- It is not very common in everyday speech, but educated speakers know it.