disquiet
Gnawing mental disturbance
Disquiet is unease or anxiety—a troubled state of mind that falls short of outright fear but unsettles nonetheless: A growing disquiet spread through the room as they waited for news.
The word works as both noun and verb: something disquiets you, leaving you disquieted.
It carries a slightly formal or literary tone, often describing collective unease rather than personal worry.
Troubled mental state
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
foreboding · misgiving · trepidation · angst · fretfulness · agitation · jitters · uneasiness
Nervously unable to settle
- antsyRestlessly eager or nervous
- edginessRestless nervous tension
- jitteryAnxiously restless
- squirmyInclined to wriggle
twitchy · restive · fretful · skittish · jumpy · impatience · unsettled · agitated
Disagreement with authority
- discontentUnhappiness with circumstances
- unrestState of public disturbance
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
dissatisfaction · murmuring · grumbling · agitation · rebellion · mutiny · insurrection · sedition
Complete disorder and confusion
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
- tumultNoisy, chaotic disturbance
- pandemoniumState of utter confusion
bedlam · mayhem · ferment · disorder · commotion · uproar · disruption · instability
worry
Troubled mental state
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
dread · foreboding · misgiving · trepidation · angst · fretfulness · agitation · jitters · uneasiness · concern
fidgety
Nervously unable to settle
squirmy · twitchy · restive · fretful · skittish · jumpy · impatience · unsettled · agitated · wired
dissent
Disagreement with authority
- discontentUnhappiness with circumstances
- unrestState of public disturbance
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
grievance · dissatisfaction · murmuring · grumbling · agitation · rebellion · mutiny · insurrection · sedition · opposition
chaos
Complete disorder and confusion
pandemonium · bedlam · mayhem · ferment · disorder · commotion · uproar · disruption · instability · convulsion
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
rigidity · stiffness · tautness · friction · discord · unrest · fraught · suspense · brittleness · volatility
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
- agitationagitation, anxiety, worry, nervousness, unease
- restlessnessrestlessness, fidgeting, fidgets, agitation, nervousness
- signs of anxietyanxiety, worry, nervousness, apprehension, trepidation
- worriesworry, concern, fear, anxiety, apprehension
- unrestriot, uprising, riots, revolt, civil unrest
disquietpeace
Freedom from disturbance
calm · tranquility · serenity · peacefulness · quietude