as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
I'm usually ill at ease when addressing a large crowd of people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ill at ease
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
Kennedy gave a rather general and broad-based answer, and perhaps more problematically appeared ill at ease with the question.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
Kennedy gave a rather general and broad-based answer, and perhaps more problematically appeared ill at ease with the question.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill at ease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill at ease
Adjective
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While the consequences of skipping routine medical care may not always be immediate, Muthyala said providers are worried about the downstream impact all of this will have on the health of the community.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Some were worried about not competing for championships because of being out of the WPIAL.—
Chilekasi Adele,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Fedor Zugic scored nine points on a trio of first-half 3-pointers to lead Creighton (14-14, 8-9), unable to build off a big upset Wednesday at UConn.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
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Residents in Queens are getting upset over the explanation from the city for a massive puddle that just won't go away.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Some anxious Republicans have urged him to show more public displays of empathy.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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And things got as anxious as a guy on a first date with the prettiest girl in school.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Given the snowy conditions and fatigue levels, these are nervous moments for the athletes, with mere seconds separating winning from losing.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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Hollywood version The team may have been extra nervous given that the previous high-profile adaptation of The House of the Spirits was a 1993 movie in English starring Hollywood actors like Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Still, the Bahamian trade route, which began picking up steam in the early months of 2025, has become a key piece of California’s troubled supply chain.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Still, the Bahamian trade route, which began picking up steam in the early months of 2025, has become a key piece of California’s troubled supply chain.—
Will Kubzansky,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Though the private military firm has been credited with helping security forces get into neighborhoods and recently blew up the home of one of the country’s most notorious warlords, the presence of mercenaries operating in Haiti continues to make some lawmakers uneasy.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
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As the pair struggles to survive the brutal Canadian backcountry, an uneasy bond forms.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ill at ease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill%20at%20ease. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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