disquiet

1 of 3

verb

dis·​qui·​et (ˌ)dis-ˈkwī-ət 

disquieted; disquieting; disquiets

transitive verb

: to take away the peace or tranquility of : disturb, alarm

were disquieted by recent events

disquieting adjective

disquietingly

(ˌ)dis-ˈkwī-ə-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

disquiet

2 of 3

noun

: lack of peace or tranquility : anxiety

great disquiet among shareholders

disquiet

3 of 3

adjective

archaic

: uneasy, disquieted

disquietly adverb

Synonyms of disquiet

Verb

• concern
• alarm
• worry
• disturb
• anger
• bother
• distract
• distress
• unsettle
• discomfort
• upset
• agitate
• dismay

Noun

• turmoil
• unrest
• unease

Choose the Right Synonym for disquiet

discompose, disquiet, disturb, perturb, agitate, upset, fluster mean to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action.

discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

Examples of disquiet in a Sentence

Verb

we were disquieted by the strange noises we heard outside our tent at night

Noun

There is increasing public disquiet about the number of violent crimes in the city.

a period of disquiet before the results of the close election were confirmed

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The light is always ‘slanted,’ casting the novel’s gnomic creations in disquieting atmospherics. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026

In a powerful and disquieting GQ profile, the band and some immediate friends and family unraveled the struggles that have plagued their lucrative but life-altering reunion, a kind of cautionary tale for leveling up after settling down. — Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026

Noun

Among other amateur butterfly afficionados and biologists who were likewise paying attention, a whisper of disquiet was spreading. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

On May 1, 1775, the day the Quebec Act took effect, the life-size marble statue of George III in Montréal – erected in gratitude for his assistance following a fire – was vandalized, indicating disquiet there about this new order. — Sarah M.s. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

Adjective

The uncertainties that led to disquiet over nuclear power across the country in the 1970s and 1980s have not gone away but have changed as technology has evolved. — Krisztian Elcsics, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026

Angola was the third stop on an 11-day tour of four African nations that has prompted wide excitement among the faithful on a continent, which is home to around 20% of the world’s Catholics – but also disquiet in some quarters. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1581, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1582, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disquiet

• unquiet
• diet
• guyot
• piet
• quiet
• riot

Kids Definition

disquiet

1 of 2 verb

dis·​qui·​et (ˈ)dis-ˈkwī-ət 

: to make uneasy or restless : disturb

disquietingly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb

disquiet

2 of 2 noun

: an uneasy feeling