unsettle

/ʌnˈsɛtəl/

//ʌnˈsɛtəl// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"unsettle" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“unsettle” is uncommon English (frequency #69,553 among 1,433 “U” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#69,553
frequency rank, English
1,433
“U” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To make upset or uncomfortable

Corpus desk

Index EN-unsettle · unsettle · English

unsettle · rank #69,553 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #69,553
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 1,433
  • PHOTO-FINISH unmentioned

Nearest frequency peer: unmentioned (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “unsettle”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “unsettle” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for unsettle
PropertyValue
Headwordunsettle
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ʌnˈsɛtəl/
Letters8
Frequency rank#69,553
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “unsettle” in English

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).unsettlefalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “unmentioned” (#69,552), “unviable” (#69,554), “unheeded” (#69,551). Among 1,433 “U” headwords, “unsettle” is #69,553. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

unsettle is uncommon English at frequency #69,553 among 1,433 “U” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ʌnˈsɛtəl/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for unsettle, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From un- + settle. The correct English form is unsettle, spelled U-N-S-E-T-T-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make upset or uncomfortable
  2. 2
    To bring into disorder or disarray

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how unsettle appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Don't unsettle the horses or they'll bolt.
  2. Athletic have been showing signs of fatigue domestically and they never quite seemed to reach the same pitch of intensity that had so unsettled Manchester United and Schalke 04 in earlier rounds.

Etymology

From un- + settle.

This word in other languages

inquietar(Español)perturbar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "unsettle"?
"unsettle" is spelled U-N-S-E-T-T-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ʌnˈsɛtəl/.
What does "unsettle" mean?
As a verb, "unsettle" means: To make upset or uncomfortable
How do you pronounce "unsettle"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "unsettle" is /ʌnˈsɛtəl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "unsettle"?
From un- + settle. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "unsettle", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

unviable#69,554unheeded#69,551vivacity#69,569waggoner#69,571

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list