Unease

/ʌnˈiːz/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a feeling of discomfort or anxiety.

There was a palpable sense of unease among the employees after the announcement of potential layoffs.

the state of being uneasy; discomfort.

Her unease grew as she approached the dark alley.

a discomforting or troubling quality.

The movie left the audience in a state of unease, pondering the dark themes it presented.

a lack of confidence or certainty.

Despite his preparations, he felt a sense of unease before delivering his speech.

a vague feeling of apprehension.

He couldn't shake off the unease that something terrible was about to happen.

Derived from un- (not) + ease (comfort or freedom from pain).

a sense of unease

An intuitive feeling of discomfort or apprehension about something.

feeling uneasy

Experiencing discomfort or anxiety.

discomfort

A state of physical or mental unease.

anxiety

A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.

The jitters

I have the jitters before public speaking.

Butterflies

I always get butterflies before a big presentation.