unrest
Americannoun
-
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 succeeded in quelling the unrest by declaring a state of emergency in June.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
"Taeb's appointment also reflects the Iranian establishment's fear of renewed unrest as the economic situation deteriorates, with the Basij likely to play a leading role in quashing future protests," said Brodsky.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
A spokesperson for London Stadium on Monday told BBC News it had "recommended" to West Ham that Sullivan does not attend with concerns about fan unrest.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Iran’s resilience has limits and there are concerns that an economic crash could trigger unrest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
Believing that catching Lincoln’s killer will end the unrest, Secretary of War Stanton spends Saturday expanding the search, making the hunt for Lincoln’s killers the biggest in American history.
From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly
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.
