unease
C1Formal, Academic, News, Literary.
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of anxiety or discomfort; the state of being mentally or emotionally unsettled.
A lack of confidence, stability, or security; a state of restlessness stemming from a situation or one's own mind.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically describes a diffuse, sometimes unidentifiable sense of worry or discomfort rather than acute fear (terror) or specific nervousness (anxiety). Often refers to a collective mood.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Unease' is slightly more frequent in UK English news reporting; 'disquiet' is a more formal near-synonym preferred in some UK contexts.
Connotations
Implies a quieter, more persistent worry. In political/social contexts, it suggests growing but not yet overt opposition.
Frequency
Moderately common in both varieties. More frequent than 'disquiet', less frequent than 'worry'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
feel ~ (about sth)express ~ (at/over sth)cause ~ (among sb)~ grows/spreads~ about/over/at sth~ among sbVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A sense of unease hung in the air.”
- “He couldn't shake off a feeling of unease.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Shareholders expressed unease over the company's falling profits and lack of a clear turnaround strategy.
Academic
The historian noted a palpable unease within the populace during the decade preceding the revolution.
Everyday
I felt a sudden unease walking down the dark, unfamiliar street.
Technical
(Psychology) Chronic unease can be a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder, though it is less acute than panic.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable. 'Unease' is solely a noun. The related verb is 'disquiet'.
American English
- Not applicable. 'Unease' is solely a noun. The related verb is 'disquiet'.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. The adverb form is 'uneasily'. E.g., 'He shifted uneasily in his seat.'
American English
- Not applicable. The adverb form is 'uneasily'. E.g., 'She glanced uneasily at the clock.'
adjective
British English
- Not applicable. The adjective form is 'uneasy'. E.g., 'She gave an uneasy smile.'
American English
- Not applicable. The adjective form is 'uneasy'. E.g., 'There was an uneasy silence in the room.'
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The strange noise in the house filled me with unease.
- There is some unease in the office about the possible job losses.
- Despite the sunny weather, a profound unease lingered among the villagers after the incident.
- The government's new policy has been met with growing unease from human rights groups.
- The CEO's evasive answers only deepened the board's unease regarding the merger's true financial risks.
- A scholar of the period, she writes compellingly about the cultural unease that characterised the fin de siècle.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
UN-EASE: The opposite of being 'at ease'. Think of the 'UN-' prefix meaning 'not', so it's the state of NOT being comfortable or relaxed.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNEAST IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN (carry a burden of unease), UNEASE IS A LIQUID (unease washed over him, a wave of unease), UNEASE IS A LACK OF STABILITY (a foundation of unease).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as 'неудобство' (discomfort/convenience). While related, 'неудобство' is more physical/practical. Closer equivalents are 'беспокойство', 'тревога', or 'неловкость' (social unease).
- Do not confuse with 'uneasy' (adjective) which is more common in direct translation.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'It uneases me' – incorrect; use 'It makes me uneasy').
- Confusing 'unease' (noun) with 'uneasy' (adj.). You *feel* unease (n.) or you *feel* uneasy (adj.).
- Overusing in place of simpler words like 'worry' in informal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'unease' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Unease' is exclusively a noun. The corresponding adjective is 'uneasy'.
'Anxiety' often implies a more intense, clinical, or specific worry. 'Unease' is generally milder, more diffuse, and often situational or atmospheric.
Extremely rarely. Its core meaning is negative (discomfort). However, it might neutrally describe a state of alertness, e.g., 'a creative unease that drives innovation'.
Common verbs include: *feel* unease, *express* unease, *cause* unease, *alleviate* unease, *fuel* unease. Avoid using 'unease' as a verb itself.