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disconcert

[dis-kuhn-surt]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to disturb the self-possession of; perturb; ruffle: Her angry reply disconcerted me completely.
  2. to throw into disorder or confusion; disarrange: He changed his mind and disconcerted everybody's plans.
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Origin of disconcert

From the obsolete French word disconcerter, dating back to 1680–90. See dis-1, concert
Related formsdis·con·cert·ed, adjectivedis·con·cer·tion, dis·con·cert·ment, noun

Synonyms

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1. discompose, perplex, bewilder, abash, discomfit.

Synonym study

1. See confuse.

Antonyms

1. calm. 2. arrange.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

discomfit, disturb, unsettle, perplex, bewilder, discombobulate, puzzle, perturb, agitate, frustrate, baffle, confound, embarrass, demoralize, hinder, discompose, discountenance, ruffle, faze, nonplus

Examples from the Web for disconcert

Historical Examples

  • The man's conceit irritated Henry and he longed to disconcert him.

    Changing Winds

    St. John G. Ervine

  • Still this did not disconcert Rose, but rather made her laugh the more.

    Fruitfulness

    Emile Zola

  • The sixteen stories under him did not disconcert him at all.

    The Mind Master

    Arthur J. Burks

  • Even the old Mexican shooting-suit seemed in no way to disconcert him.

    The Market-Place

    Harold Frederic

  • This exclamation appeared to disconcert Yoga Rama a good deal.

    Telepathy

    W. W. Baggally

British Dictionary definitions for disconcert

disconcert

verb (tr)
  1. to disturb the composure of
  2. to frustrate or upset
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Derived Formsdisconcertion or disconcertment, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for disconcert

v.

1680s, from Middle French disconcerter (Modern French déconcerter) "confused," from dis- "do the opposite of" (see dis-) + concerter (see concert). Related: Disconcerted; disconcerting; disconcertingly.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper