unease
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a feeling of worry or nervousness, especially when you think something bad might happen.
n.a state of mental discomfort, apprehension, or anxiety regarding a situation or event.
Simple“There was a growing sense of unease among the staff after the manager's announcement.”
In context“The sudden silence in the boardroom created a palpable sense of unease, as if everyone were waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
v.to make someone feel worried or nervous.
v.to cause a person to feel uncomfortable or anxious. This transitive use is significantly less common than the noun or the adjective 'uneasy'.
Simple“The strange noises from the attic began to unease the residents of the old house.”
In context“The prospect of a long winter without adequate supplies began to unease the settlers, though they kept their fears quiet.”
UsageThe verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
“And we saw moments of unease between the rulers and those they rule.”
From Middle English unese, equivalent to un- + ease. Compare disease.
From Middle English unesen, equivalent to un- + ease.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.