uneasy
/ʌn'i:zi/
Học thuậtThân thiện
The man cast uneasy glances behind him as he walked down the dark, foggy street.
Definition
- Adjective:
- Causing or feeling mental discomfort or worry: "Uneasy" describes a state of being anxious, worried, or not relaxed in mind.
- Causing or feeling physical discomfort or restlessness: It can also refer to a lack of physical ease or comfort.
- Not settled or stable; precarious: Used to describe a situation, agreement, or calm that is tense, insecure, or likely to change.
Usage and Examples
- Describing a person's feeling:
- She felt uneasy about the strange noise in the house. (She felt anxious and worried.)
- He was uneasy with the amount of responsibility he was given. (He felt insecure or apprehensive.)
- Describing a physical state:
- After the long journey, he fell into an uneasy sleep. (His sleep was restless and not peaceful.)
- Describing a situation or atmosphere:
- An uneasy silence fell over the room after the argument. (The silence was tense and uncomfortable.)
- The two companies formed an uneasy alliance. (The alliance was insecure and fraught with tension.)
Advanced Usage
- "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown": A proverb meaning that people with great responsibility (like a monarch) can never rest easily.
- The CEO understood that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
- To be/feel uneasy about something: To have doubts or worries regarding a specific thing.
- Investors are uneasy about the new economic policy.
Variants and Related Words
- Uneasily (adverb): In a worried or uncomfortable manner.
- He laughed uneasily at the awkward joke.
- Uneasiness (noun): The state or feeling of being uneasy.
- A feeling of uneasiness pervaded the meeting.
Synonyms
- Anxious: Experiencing worry or nervousness.
- Apprehensive: Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.
- Restless: Unable to rest or relax due to anxiety or boredom.
- Uncomfortable: Causing or feeling slight pain or physical discomfort; also mental discomfort.
Antonyms
- Calm: Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions.
- Comfortable: Providing physical ease and relaxation; free from stress.
- Relaxed: Free from tension and anxiety.
- Secure: Fixed or fastened so as not to give way, become loose, or be lost; feeling safe and free from worry.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- Have an uneasy conscience: To feel guilty about something.
- He had an uneasy conscience after telling the lie.
- Uneasy peace/calm/truce: A peace or calm that is fragile and likely to be broken.
- The treaty brought an uneasy peace to the region.
The man cast uneasy glances behind him as he walked down the dark, foggy street.
Adjective
- relating to bodily unease that causes discomfort
- socially uncomfortable; unsure and constrained in manner
- awkward and reserved at parties
- ill at ease among eddies of people he didn't know
- was always uneasy with strangers
- causing or fraught with or showing anxiety
- spent an anxious night waiting for the test results
- cast anxious glances behind her
- those nervous moments before takeoff
- an unquiet mind
- lacking or not affording physical or mental rest
- a restless night
- she fell into an uneasy sleep
- lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
- farmers were uneasy until rain finally came
- uneasy about his health
- gave an uneasy laugh
- uneasy lies the head that wears the crown
- an uneasy coalition government
- an uneasy calm
- an uneasy silence fell on the group