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
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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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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.
Paz's government accuses him of instigating the unrest.
From BBC • May 24, 2026
Inflated dealer inventories, labor unrest, management turnover, rising quality costs, tariffs, and other issues weighed on profitability.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
Inflated dealer inventories, labor unrest, management turnover, rising quality costs, tariffs, and other issues weighed on profitability.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
The unrest came as it was announced that DR Congo's national football team had cancelled its pre-World Cup training camp in the capital, Kinshasa, because of the outbreak.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
After 1919, the next large-scale unrest exploded nearly a half century later, when blacks took to the streets in cities across the country during the civil rights movement.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
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.
