uneasy

1 of 2

adjective

un·​easy ˌən-ˈē-zē How to pronounce uneasy (audio)
Synonyms of uneasynext
1
: causing physical or mental discomfort
Uneasy news of captures and killings …—Marjory S. Douglas
2
: not easy : difficult
3
: marked by lack of ease : awkward, embarrassed entry 1
gave an uneasy laugh
4
: apprehensive, worried entry 1
uneasy about the weather
5
: restless, unquiet
an uneasy night
6
: precarious, unstable
an uneasy truce
uneasiness noun

uneasy

2 of 2

adverb

: uneasily

Synonyms of uneasy

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Adjective

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Examples of uneasy in a Sentence

Adjective Rain made the crew uneasy. He has an uneasy relationship with his father. We spent an uneasy night waiting for news.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The character of Erika, a writer and intellectual with her own range of uneasy connections to Germany—she’ll encounter an ex-husband and an ex-lover there—is a screenwriter’s convenience, a walking plot-production machine. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2026 Giving team members insight into what is known, what remains unchanged and what may come next can help people navigate uneasy periods of uncertainty with greater confidence. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Experts say Chinese officials likely felt uneasy about that opening. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 An uneasy quiet took over the boat as customers waited for another catch. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for uneasy

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1596, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uneasy was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing uneasy

Rhymes for uneasy

See All Rhymes for uneasy

Browse Nearby Words

uneasiness
uneasy
uneasy peace
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Cite this Entry

“Uneasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uneasy. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

uneasy

adjective
un·​easy
ˌən-ˈē-zē
1
: not easy in manner : awkward
uneasy among strangers
2
: disturbed by pain or worry : restless
rain made the crew uneasy
uneasily
-ˈēz-ə-lē
adverb
uneasiness
-ˈē-zē-nəs
noun
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