uneasy
Americanadjective
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not easy in body or mind; uncomfortable; restless; disturbed; perturbed.
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not easy in manner; constrained; gauche; stilted.
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not conducive to ease; causing bodily discomfort.
adjective
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(of a person) anxious; apprehensive
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(of a condition) precarious; uncomfortable
an uneasy truce
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(of a thought, etc) disturbing; disquieting
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of uneasy
First recorded in 1250–1300, uneasy is from the Middle English word unesy. See un- 1, easy
Explanation
Uneasy describes an uncomfortable feeling. You might feel socially uneasy when dining with your girlfriend's parents if they don't like you very much. Your stomach may also feel uneasy at that same dinner and gurgle in an embarrassing way. The adjective uneasy has many shades of meaning, most involving mild discomfort. It can refer to a lack of a sense of security. If McDonald's and Burger King team up to develop a new sandwich, that would be an uneasy alliance, because neither side would fully trust the other. Uneasy can also describe causing someone to feel anxious or nervous. If you see someone staring at you mumbling, "That's him, that's the one," you might feel uneasy.
Vocabulary lists containing uneasy
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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Don't Panic! Synonyms for "Stress"
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Whoops! Synonyms for "Clumsy"
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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.
See Examples For:
You are worried about longevity, because of your family history, and you just seem uneasy overall.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
And at a time when the US president still wishes to control the vast Arctic island, the prospect of a US energy company potentially carrying out exploration activities is making people uneasy.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
The doll arrives at an uneasy moment for the brand it’s built on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Early is interested in the sickly vanity of eating disorders and conceptual femininity, and he explores the danger of these illnesses through a lens that is both uneasy and unique to his film.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
Every time Torak went to look, there was nothing but a stink of carrion and an uneasy feeling of being watched.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
But Mr. Sebastian sounded uneasier about Mr. Trump, despite having hoped for the best after his election.
From New York Times ● Aug. 6, 2018
Yet fiction seems to have an uneasier relationship with influence than other art forms.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 24, 2018
But Phil Young, a 27-year veteran of the Army and Marine Corps, walking alongside Mr. Pierson, was uneasier about the Republican nominee, sharing reservations that underscore the roadblocks confronting Mr. Trump.
From New York Times ● Aug. 4, 2016
They enjoy being scared, but become uneasier by the degree to which they can place themselves in a drama.
From Time Magazine Archive
So I got uneasier and uneasier, and couldn't rest.
From Tom Sawyer, Detective by Mark Twain
Mahershala Ali’s win for Supporting Actor, for his role in “Green Book,” was one of the uneasiest moments of the night.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 25, 2019
Then into the strangest, uneasiest song REM had to date recorded, with Stipe flashing in and out of focus as the lights flickered around the band.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 15, 2012
A beaming Harry, 20, who was said to be the uneasiest about his relationship with his new stepmom, was first to wave back.
From Time Magazine Archive
When they had finished Edna offered to show Judge Trent a shady hammock where breezes were warranted to lull all but the uneasiest conscience to rest.
From The Opened Shutters by Clara Louise Burnham
Well," replied Peter, "all the rest of the Warblers are the uneasiest folks I know of.
From The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess
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.
