unease

noun

un·​ease ˌən-ˈēz 

: mental or spiritual discomfort: such as

a

: vague dissatisfaction : misgiving

b

: anxiety, disquiet

c

: lack of ease (as in social relations) : embarrassment

Synonyms

• concern
• fear
• anxiety
• worry
• concernment
• uneasiness

Examples of unease in a Sentence

A feeling of unease came over her.

They noticed increasing signs of unease among the workers.

Recent Examples on the Web

While the Blackhawks did well trading away Seth Jones for Spencer Knight and a first, plus accumulating some other picks elsewhere, there’s still a sense of unease regarding where this train is going. —Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025

Beyond a chance to cultivate your kid’s independence, Dr. Franz noted that short periods of unease can build resilience in children. —Jana Pollack, Parents, 15 Aug. 2025

Howe has alluded to its impact on the rest of the team, and there is a sense of unease before the Premier League kicks off this weekend. —Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

In a broader sign of Wall Street’s unease, more than twice as many analysts assign the stock sell or hold ratings than buy, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. —Carmen Reinicke, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unease

• agrees
• appease
• bailees
• bougies
• burmese
• chemise
• chickpeas
• chinese
• cowpeas
• curies
• decrees
• degrees