inquietude

American  

[in-kwahy-i-tood, -tyood] / ɪnˈkwaɪ ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

noun

1. restlessness or uneasiness; disquietude.

2. inquietudes, disquieting thoughts.

   beset by myriad inquietudes.

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inquietude British  

/ ɪnˈkwaɪət, ɪnˈkwaɪɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. restlessness, uneasiness, or anxiety

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Other Word Forms

• inquiet adjective
• inquietly adverb

Etymology

Origin of inquietude

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Late Latin word inquiētūdō. See in- ³, quietude

Explanation

When you feel upset, restless, or anxious, you have a sense of inquietude. If you're worried about a friend driving home in the snow, your inquietude won't let you relax until you hear that she's arrived safely. The feelings of unease or fretfulness that go along with inquietude might come from a fear of heights, worry about someone you love, or general anxiety. This noun comes from the Latin inquietus, "not quiet." Interestingly, the adjective version of this word isn't inquiet, which isn't a real word — instead it's unquiet, meaning "restless or anxious."

Example Sentences

“I’ve always had that inner inquietude, that kind of yearning for equality and for justice and for eliminating any kind of prejudices and racism and colorism, which is very prevalent in Mexico,” she explained.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2025

If you’re prone to inquietude, on the other hand, I have good news: A majority of the court appeared apprehensive about rolling back marriage equality.

From Slate • Mar. 1, 2017

"Yet one word!" exclaimed the drost, with much inquietude.

From The Childhood of King Erik Menved An Historical Romance by Ingemann, Bernhard Severin

Fortunately for him, in this inquietude he came across a treatise by Gilbert, De Magnate, which had been published in London nine years before.

From Astronomical Myths Based on Flammarions's History of the Heavens by Blake, John F.

This inquietude is soothed by a clear knowledge of the cause from which it springs.

From Outlines of a Philosophy of Religion based on Psychology and History by Sabatier, Auguste