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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for March 25–March 31, 2023
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for November 26–December 2, 2022
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Much of the overtime money the department spent went instead toward preparing for unrest, monitoring protests and vigils, guarding hotels housing federal agents, and managing the public response to federal violence.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Following the unrest in Clapham, police warned they would take a "zero tolerance approach" to any reports of disorder and would keep "a strong visible presence".
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Civil unrest is growing as living standards plummet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Buying stocks that benefit from market volatility is a useful way to hedge unrest and profit from big trading volumes.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
The trade in tobacco was suffering materially due to the unrest with the mother country and the late crisis in credit.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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.
