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

Many have targeted dissidents or journalists whom the regime accuses of aiding its enemies and fomenting unrest in Iran. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026

The congestion and Middle East unrest have both also impacted intra-Asia freight rates, with Drewry counting a third-straight week of container price increases. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026

Denis, who goes by Jan Mapou after his store, Libreri Mapou, has long been a fixture in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, a refuge since the 1970s for Haitians fleeing dictators and political unrest. — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Columbia, which doesn’t have its own police force, handled the unrest by shutting, reopening, and resealing its borders, confusing even itself. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Aug. 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