disconcerted
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- disconcertedly adverb
- disconcertedness noun
- undisconcerted adjective
Etymology
Origin of disconcerted
First recorded in 1630–40; disconcert ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Explanation
A concert is a choreographed harmony of sounds but throw the prefix "dis" in front it and you have the opposite: disconcerted — a word used to describe someone whose composure has been disturbed or unsettled. Disconcerted is a combination of the French prefix des- which indicates reversal and the word concerter meaning "bring together," so something disconcerted is not brought together, but rather torn apart, or thrown into confusion. If you are under a lot of stress or worried about something, you're in a disconcerted or discombobulated state. Take a breath. Relax a moment. Everything will be OK.
Vocabulary lists containing disconcerted
All Quiet on the Western Front
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The Namesake
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Little Fires Everywhere
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even Emily Blunt was publicly disconcerted, begging Hollywood agencies to “please stop taking away our human connection.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026
Augustine struggled with Perpetua, disconcerted by her sex, her visions and her popularity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025
They are disconcerted by the prospect of apex predators roaming their territory, including on popular trails.
From Seattle Times • May 17, 2024
Even Danny Danon, a Netanyahu ally and former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. who recently predicted a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia in 2023, seemed disconcerted.
From Washington Times • Mar. 11, 2023
“No—I—of course not,” said Harry, disconcerted by this sudden change of subject.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
