uneasy

1 of 2

adjective

un·​easy ˌən-ˈē-zē How to pronounce uneasy (audio)
1
: causing physical or mental discomfort
uneasy news of captures and killingsMarjory 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

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
In response, the Pentagon launched a large-scale attack and killed a key militia leader in Baghdad, restoring some deterrence and an uneasy calm. Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Yet intertwined with this narrative of uneasy astonishment is an intriguing counterpoint. Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 The move has made experts uneasy; this means that your devices may not need a two-factor authentication code to log in anymore. Dhruv Mehrotra, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2024 Ghalib acknowledged that some may be uneasy about a newcomer leading Hamtramck police. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2024 Biden has an uneasy relationship to such knowledge. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Despite almost daily Russian shelling and missile strikes, the city has recovered an uneasy normalcy, with some residents returning, shops open and life going on. Joseph Ataman, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024 This year, the Year of the Dragon, is supposed to be the most uneasy, uncertain, or dramatic year, which might be true. Jonathan Landreth, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024 In practice, nationalists and unionists will continue to govern in uneasy balance. Jill Lawless The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 6 Feb. 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uneasy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1596, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uneasy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near uneasy

Cite this Entry

“Uneasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uneasy. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on uneasy

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