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

The 2022 uprising was itself part of a longer cycle of unrest. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026

The Gambia banned protests without permits following days of unrest over persistent electricity blackouts. — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 14 Sep. 2026

The setting is contemporary Paris in crisis, when civil unrest, rather amorphously presented apart from increasing numbers of military on the streets, makes evening strolls potentially problematic. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Some Arab governments responded with bloody crack downs, tracked activists through their digital or cellular footprints, and curtailed news coverage of the unrest. — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 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