What does disconcert mean?
Word: Disconcert
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Disconcert means to make someone feel uneasy or thrown off balance, often for a moment.
Synonyms: disturb
Antonyms: soothe
How do you spell disconcert?
Syllables: dis - con - cert
Tricky part: The sound before ert is made by a c, not an s. Disconsert is the usual slip.
Watch out for: disconsert, discomcert
Memory tip: A disconcerted person is no longer certain of anything. Certain gives you the c you need.
Disconcert in a sentence
Example 1: The visitor was disconcerted by the long silence after her question.
Example 2: It can disconcert a new pupil when the whole class turns to look.
Example 3: Nothing could disconcert our goalkeeper, not even a penalty in the final minute.
Fun Fact
When it first appeared in the late 1600s, the word meant upsetting the progress of something. Only later did it come to mean upsetting a person's calm.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Sudden questions from the back of the hall did not dissconcert the young speaker, who smiled and went calmly on with her talk.
a) questions
b) dissconcert
c) speaker
d) calmly
Show answer
b) dissconcert. A single s follows the opening di.
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the prefix dis- to form a real verb. Choose it:
dis
a) concert
b) concrete
c) concede
d) conclude
Show answer
a) concert. Disconcrete, disconclude and disconcede are not words; the prefix joins only the correct option.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word disconcert as used in the sentence:
The loud cheering seemed to disconcert the shy singer.
a) fluster
b) rattle
c) reassure
d) unsettle
Show answer
c) reassure. Cheering that troubles a singer does the reverse of reassuring her.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. rehersal 2. disconcert 3. symphonie 4. percusion
a) to shake a person's calm
b) drums and other instruments that are struck
c) a practice before a performance
d) a long piece of music for an orchestra
Show answer
a) to shake a person's calm. Symphony ends in y, rehearsal has ea and percussion a double s.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A batter is disconcerted by a fielder creeping closer. What is likely to happen next?
a) he loses his focus for a moment
b) he scores much faster than before
c) the umpire ends the game early
d) his team changes its captain
Show answer
a) he loses his focus for a moment
2. What remark would most disconcert a student about to give a speech?
a) Your notes seem to be for a different topic.
b) You look ready and well prepared today.
c) Here is a glass of water for you.
d) We have all heard that you speak well.
Show answer
a) Your notes seem to be for a different topic.
