unease
Vague unsettled feeling
Unease is a feeling of mild anxiety or discomfort—a sense that something isn't quite right.
It falls short of fear or dread but exceeds simple discomfort: A vague unease settled over the room.
The adjective uneasy describes both the feeling and what causes it: an uneasy silence, I felt uneasy about the plan.
State of anxious unease
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- worryTroubled mental state
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- angstDeep unfocused worry
trepidation · foreboding · misgiving · qualm · jitters · fretfulness · disquiet · perturbation
Mild stomach disturbance
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
- unsettlednessCondition of being unresolved
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
- self-consciousnessUncomfortable awareness of oneself
embarrassment · squeamishness · creepiness · eeriness · willies · heebie-jeebies · goosebumps · shudder
Lack of firm belief
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- unpredictabilityState resisting forecasts
- ambivalenceConflicting emotions coexisting
hesitation · indecision · vacillation · questioning · second-guessing · wavering · shakiness · unsureness
Restless minor movements
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
- antsinessState of nervous agitation
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- squirminessTendency to wriggle uncomfortably
pacing · twitchiness · sleeplessness · tossing · turning · wakefulness · unsettledness · distraction
Lack of grace or ease
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
- tensionStretched or strained state
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- strainedUnder uncomfortable tension
stilted · forced · politeness · silence · avoidance · tiptoeing · eggshells · guardedness
Excessive stretching force
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- tightnessState of being constricted
- stiffnessResistance to deformation
pressure · edginess · suspense · anticipation · electricity · undercurrent · atmosphere · palpability
nervousness
State of anxious unease
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- worryTroubled mental state
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
angst · trepidation · foreboding · misgiving · qualm · jitters · fretfulness · disquiet · perturbation · consternation
queasiness
Mild stomach disturbance
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
- unsettlednessCondition of being unresolved
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
self-consciousness · embarrassment · squeamishness · creepiness · eeriness · willies · heebie-jeebies · goosebumps · shudder · chill
doubt
Lack of firm belief
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- unpredictabilityState resisting forecasts
ambivalence · hesitation · indecision · vacillation · questioning · second-guessing · wavering · shakiness · unsureness · incertitude
fidgeting
Restless minor movements
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
- antsinessState of nervous agitation
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
squirminess · pacing · twitchiness · sleeplessness · tossing · turning · wakefulness · unsettledness · distraction · preoccupation
awkwardness
Lack of grace or ease
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
- tensionStretched or strained state
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
strained · stilted · forced · politeness · silence · avoidance · tiptoeing · eggshells · guardedness · reserve
strain
Excessive stretching force
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- tightnessState of being constricted
stiffness · pressure · edginess · suspense · anticipation · electricity · undercurrent · atmosphere · palpability · charged
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
- emotionsjoy, anger, fear, sadness, love
- feelingsemotion, feeling, pleasure, joy, anger
- bad feelingssadness, anger, fear, grief, sorrow
- stressstress, chronic stress, acute stress, strain, stressor
- agitationagitation, anxiety, worry, nervousness, restlessness
uneaseconfidence
Self-assurance or trust
assurance · security · certainty · unconcern · peace of mind
uneasecomfort
Ease or soothing relief
ease · easiness · relaxation · at-homeness · belonging
- uneasy alliance
- persistent uneaseOngoing vague anxiety