unrest
Americannoun
-
lack of rest; a restless, troubled, or uneasy state; disquiet.
the unrest within himself.
-
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
Etymology
Origin of unrest
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at un- 1, rest 1
Explanation
Unrest is an uneasy, agitated, or disturbed condition. Strikes and public protests are often part of social and political unrest. There's a personal, small-scale kind of unrest, like the unrest caused at a birthday party by one extremely unhappy child, or the unrest that results from a class clown's practical jokes. Then there's the societal unrest that results in angry public demonstrations. Unsafe working conditions might lead to unrest among laborers, and a government's authoritarian rule often results in unrest too, with citizens marching in the streets.
Vocabulary lists containing unrest
Lesson 4
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for March 25–March 31, 2023
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for November 26–December 2, 2022
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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.
The U.S. dollar added to recent gains as unrest and budget worries in France weighed on the euro.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
The unrest has already forced the government into at least one retreat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
She also alleged that outsiders had joined the unrest.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
Perhaps ominously, but to err on the side of caution, Yellowstone’s Volcano Alert Level is raised from “normal” to “advisory,” indicating that unrest is above its established background level.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
The president allows a few moments of unrest, and then continues in her brisk fashion.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
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.
