uneasy
/ʌnˈiː.zi/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Feeling worried, nervous, or not relaxed. It can also describe a situation that feels awkward, uncertain, or not safe.
- I felt uneasy before the interview.
- There was an uneasy silence in the room.
- She was uneasy about the sudden change.
Adinary Nuance
Uneasy is weaker and less serious than afraid or terrified. It often means a quiet, uneasy feeling in your mind or a tense situation, not strong panic. Use anxious when you want to stress worry about the future; use uneasy when something feels wrong, awkward, or unsafe.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bồn chồn
- Spanish
- inquieto
- Chinese
- 不安
- Japanese
- 不安な
- Korean
- 불안한
Etymology
Uneasy comes from English un- plus easy. It appeared in Middle English and originally meant 'not easy' or 'not comfortable.'
Common phrases
feel uneasyan uneasy feelingan uneasy silencebe uneasy about
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is uneasy the same as anxious?
- They are close, but uneasy is often about discomfort or a bad feeling. Anxious usually means worried about something that may happen.
- Can I say an uneasy situation?
- Yes. It means the situation feels tense, awkward, or not fully safe.
- Is uneasy formal or informal?
- It is common in both spoken and written English. It works well in academic and business writing.
- How do I use uneasy with about?
- Use it like this: 'uneasy about something.' Example: 'I feel uneasy about the delay.'