unrest
Americannoun
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lack of rest; a restless, troubled, or uneasy state; disquiet.
the unrest within himself.
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disturbance or turmoil; agitation.
political unrest.
- Synonyms:
- turbulence, discord, ferment
noun
-
a troubled or rebellious state of discontent
-
an uneasy or troubled state
Other Word Forms
- unresting adjective
Etymology
Origin of unrest
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.
Last year, persistent power and water shortages in Madagascar led to youth-led protests, which escalated to broader political unrest, resulting in a military takeover.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
England's Brendon McCullum held a call with county cricket head coaches and directors on Wednesday amid unrest between the domestic and international game.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
“Current Middle East unrest is already starting to impact business operations by increasing lead times, costs, container delays and the like,” one manager in the food and beverage category told the survey.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
Desai said, as seeming moments of recovery in the past year or so were squashed by the L.A. wildfires, then last summer’s immigration crackdown and associated civil unrest.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026
As unrest grew, Ptolemy’s only choice was to seek Rome’s help, further angering the citizens.
From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby
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.
