unrest

[uhn-rest]

noun

1. lack of rest; a restless, troubled, or uneasy state; disquiet.

   the unrest within himself.

2. disturbance or turmoil; agitation.

   political unrest.

   Synonyms: turbulence, discord, ferment

unrest

/ ʌnˈrɛst /

noun

1. a troubled or rebellious state of discontent

2. an uneasy or troubled state

Other Word Forms

• unresting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of unrest¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; un- ¹, rest ¹

Example Sentences

One is driven by weak economic growth, the other stems from political instability, which discourages investment and growth and pushes people deeper into poverty, fuelling social unrest.

Read more on BBC

China needs the U.S. to drive its export engine, the largest in the world, and keep its economy from spiraling into a slowdown that would stoke civil unrest.

Read more on Barron's

The protesters have taken to the streets almost every night over the past weeks, unrest that has rocked the usually stable north African country.

Read more on Barron's

The unrest risks derailing French President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to restore France’s influence as a global power, as well as its ability to fend off growing competition from China.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The unrest has delivered a blow to the French leader’s ambitions to restore France’s influence as a global power since he was first elected in 2017.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• anarchy 
• anxiety 
• confusion 
• controversy 
• crisis 
• discontent 
• discord 
• dissension 
• insurrection 
• protest 
• rebellion 
• strife 
• tension 
• trouble 
• tumult 
• turmoil 
• uproar