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
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 Experts said best practices include: Exposure therapy: Spending time outside around the bugs can make the experience less uneasy, Brownlowe said. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2024 For the Ukrainian people, the cataclysmic abnormality wrought by the invasion has, after two years, become an uneasy new normal. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Feb. 2024 The uneasy give and take between the film’s central characters is loosely based on the relationship between Rasti and his estranged father, with whom the director hasn’t spoken in several years. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024 Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said the council had limited the extension to 90 days because some members were uneasy giving Bowser carte blanche to circumvent procurement rules and other extraordinary powers afforded under a public emergency. Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 18 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 19 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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