unrest

noun

un·​rest ˌən-ˈrest 

: a disturbed, uneasy, or turbulent state : turmoil

The country has experienced years of civil/social/political unrest.

Synonyms of unrest

• turmoil

Examples of unrest in a Sentence

The country has experienced years of civil unrest.

unrest gripped the city as the people nervously awaited the expected bombardment

Recent Examples on the Web

Living standards stay stagnant and social unrest keeps rising. — Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

The result, playing out almost daily outside high schools and on the streets of France, is a nationwide storm of unrest. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

The French government has already promised 3,000 extra teachers in a bid to quell the unrest. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

The unrest threatens to have a strong economic and political impact on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's governance. — Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unrest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed

Kids Definition

unrest

noun

un·​rest ˌən-ˈrest 

ˈən-

: lack of rest : a disturbed or uneasy state : turmoil