ILL AT EASE Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

ill at ease

adjective

Definition of ill at ease

as in worried

feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty I'm usually ill at ease when addressing a large crowd of people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ill at ease Maurice, who had a troubled childhood marked by illness and emotional neglect, was negative and socially ill at ease. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2025 In her mind, the community in her fictional story should be one of privilege, a circumstance in which Ruth, who grew up in a working-class Yiddish family, could initially feel ill at ease. — Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025 The young man may be introverted or otherwise socially ill at ease. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 29 May 2025 In addition to making people feel ill at ease and exacerbating respiratory illnesses, the wind, combined with dry conditions, has elevated the fire risk across Texas. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ill at ease

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill at ease

Adjective

Christian is worried about Aaron’s gray jersey sportswear look because the fit will need to be perfect, and then, uh-oh, Aaron sews the bodysuit incorrectly and needs to start again.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 July 2026
The Polymarket spokesperson added that the company is worried about potential duplicative or conflicting compliance requirements that could harm innovation.

— Ananya Chetia,Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 16 July 2026

Definition of worried

Adjective

After nearly losing, in what would have been a Cinderella upset, to a completely unheralded Cabo Verde, Argentina benefitted from questionable refereeing decisions in subsequent victories over Egypt and Switzerland.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 16 July 2026
Some Carowinds visitors were upset the park did not announce the roller coaster was closed sooner.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026

Definition of upset

Adjective

Max is accompanied on his adventures by anxious robot C-3PO AB Sitter, and FX, a magical alien masquerading as a toy who can turn the kid's implausibly impressive sand sculptures into fully functioning robots.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 July 2026
America’s centennial in 1876 was celebrated with a grand exhibition that projected an image of national unity and inventiveness in the anxious aftermath of civil war and recession.

— The New York Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026

Definition of anxious

Adjective

Some nervous observers are going so far as to swear off salads and other raw fruits and vegetables until the outbreak has run its course.

— Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
But Griffin’s recent donation to Moody is not the only indication Republicans could be more nervous about Florida than the Senate races in other bright-red states.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

Definition of nervous

Adjective

But the real anger belongs to the narrator herself, who berates herself for bringing a succession of troubled men into her son’s life.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 July 2026
There’s also room to more deeply explore Queen Gertrude (Jodi Gage)’s role in the palace intrigue and her troubled relationship with her son.

— Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Definition of troubled

Adjective

But as mainstream coverage of looksmaxxing continues and people like Clavicular are platformed by the fashion establishment, professionals across the beauty ecosystem are still uneasy.

— Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Politics and sport have always been uneasy bedfellows, but until recently referees and other sport officials have rarely been dragged into the public discourse.

— Graham Scott, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of uneasy

Browse Nearby Words

ill-advised

ill at ease

illaudable

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ill at ease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill%20at%20ease. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of ill at ease

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

obdurate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes