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

Budget cuts The unrest is adding to a major political headache for the government, which is about to start tough budget negotiations against a backdrop of division and economic turmoil. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

In a sign of growing staff unrest over the steady stream of cost-cutting announcements across the BBC, some workers made their feelings known on a Microsoft Teams call earlier this week. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026

The government has now deployed specialized riot police and mobile gendarmes as authorities struggle to contain the unrest, Le Monde reported. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Citing the country's judiciary, IRNA said the men took part in unrest in the northeastern city of Mashhad that left four members of the security forces dead earlier this year. — Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 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