disconcert

[dis-kuhn-surt]

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verb (used with object)

to disturb the self-possession of; perturb; ruffle: Her angry reply disconcerted me completely.
to throw into disorder or confusion; disarrange: He changed his mind and disconcerted everybody's plans.

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 for disconcert

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

Synonym study

1. See confuse.

Antonyms for disconcert

1. calm. 2. arrange.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for disconcert

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 of disconcert

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)

to disturb the composure of
to frustrate or upset

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

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