as in turmoil
a disturbed or uneasy state
unrest gripped the city as the people nervously awaited the expected bombardment his stomach unrest was just a sign of stage fright
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unrest
The exhibition, in a city where months of unrest followed the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson, became a local flashpoint that made national headlines.
—
Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
At least 518 people died in Tanzanian election violence last year, the first official death toll since the October unrest shows.
—Peter Martin, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
Originally delayed earlier this year, reportedly amid staff unrest, and later postponed until after the French municipal elections, the jury tasked with selecting the architects for the Louvre Museum renovation is now set to convene in mid-May, Le Figaro reports.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Amid the unrest, the mine shut down.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unrest
Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
At least 518 people died in Tanzanian election violence last year, the first official death toll since the October unrest shows.
—Peter Martin, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
Originally delayed earlier this year, reportedly amid staff unrest, and later postponed until after the French municipal elections, the jury tasked with selecting the architects for the Louvre Museum renovation is now set to convene in mid-May, Le Figaro reports.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Amid the unrest, the mine shut down.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unrest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unrest
turmoil
Noun
-
The turmoil has included the sudden resignation of then-Supt.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Twin Cities’ response to a sweeping federal immigration crackdown that threw communities and local economies into turmoil offers a glimpse of what resilience and solidarity look like in practice.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unrest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unrest. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
