uneasy

1 of 2

adjective

un·​easy ˌən-ˈē-zē 

1

: causing physical or mental discomfort

uneasy news of captures and killings

—Marjory S. Douglas

2

: not easy : difficult

3

: marked by lack of ease : awkward, embarrassed

gave an uneasy laugh

4

: apprehensive, worried

uneasy about the weather

5

: restless, unquiet

an uneasy night

6

: precarious, unstable

an uneasy truce

uneasiness noun

uneasy

2 of 2

adverb

: uneasily

Synonyms

Adjective

• aflutter
• antsy
• anxious
• atwitter
• dithery
• edgy
• goosey
• het up
• hinky [slang]
• hung up
• ill at ease
• insecure
• jittery
• jumpy
• nervous
• nervy
• perturbed
• queasy
• queazy
• tense
• troubled
• unquiet
• upset
• uptight
• worried

Examples of uneasy in a Sentence

Adjective

Rain made the crew uneasy.

He has an uneasy relationship with his father.

We spent an uneasy night waiting for news.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

There’s no shortage of movies that have looked at Dylan’s music and his uneasy relationship to fame. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024

For history buffs, a deep dive into a pivotal period of Japanese history and the uneasy relationship between East and West. —Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Dec. 2024

Adverb

Master has a stew of storylines that don’t always perfectly blend together, but I was impressed by how effective and uneasy-making its mood remained all the way to the end. —Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2022

As prosecutors moved to drop charges against Mr. Watts, the man who had made Ms. Francisco uneasy returned to her shop on Jan. 4. —New York Times, 4 Feb. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1596, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing uneasy

• uneasy peace

Kids Definition

uneasy

adjective

un·​easy

ˌən-ˈē-zē

1

: not easy in manner : awkward

uneasy among strangers

2

: disturbed by pain or worry : restless

rain made the crew uneasy

uneasily

-ˈēz-ə-lē

adverb

uneasiness

-ˈē-zē-nəs

noun