unrest

noun

un·​rest ˌən-ˈrest How to pronounce unrest (audio)
Synonyms of unrestnext
: a disturbed, uneasy, or turbulent state : turmoil
The country has experienced years of civil/social/political unrest.

Synonyms of unrest

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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
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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.
High inflation and a currency crash triggered widespread protests that led to a brutal crackdown in January, and some officials in Tehran are concerned today’s economic woes could stir more unrest. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026 Latin American countries have been targeted by cyberattacks recently, especially Colombia and Venezuela, as hackers look to steal data, cripple government systems, or just take advantage of unrest, elections, or other national events. — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026 Other factors have contributed to unrest over inflation, some analysts said. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 Any potential for unrest or protests related to people’s monitoring of market forecasts is likely to come in the days following the election, while ballots still are being counted, Logan said. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unrest

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unrest was in the 14th century

Rhymes for unrest

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Browse Nearby Words

unresponsive
unrest
unrested
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Cite this Entry

“Unrest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unrest. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unrest

noun
un·​rest ˌən-ˈrest How to pronounce unrest (audio)
ˈən-
: lack of rest : a disturbed or uneasy state : turmoil

More from Merriam-Webster on unrest

Nglish: Translation of unrest for Spanish Speakers

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