disquiet 1 of 2

noun

Definition of disquietnext
1
as in turmoil
a disturbed or uneasy state a period of disquiet before the results of the close election were confirmed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in concern
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble was filled with disquiet as the hours passed without any sign of the missing children

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disquiet

2 of 2

verb

(ˌ)dis-ˈkwī-ət How to pronounce disquiet (audio)
as in to concern
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy we were disquieted by the strange noises we heard outside our tent at night

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disquiet contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of disquiet are agitate, discompose, disturb, fluster, perturb, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

In what contexts can agitate take the place of disquiet?

While the synonyms agitate and disquiet are close in meaning, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

When might discompose be a better fit than disquiet?

Although the words discompose and disquiet have much in common, discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

When is disturb a more appropriate choice than disquiet?

The words disturb and disquiet can be used in similar contexts, but disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

Where would fluster be a reasonable alternative to disquiet?

The meanings of fluster and disquiet largely overlap; however, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When could perturb be used to replace disquiet?

The synonyms perturb and disquiet are sometimes interchangeable, but perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

When can upset be used instead of disquiet?

The words upset and disquiet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

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 disquiet
Noun
Both reflect the internal disquiet and rage that result from despair—in particular despair arising from scrutiny of dominant power structures—whether within governments, communities, or families. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 25 Sep. 2024 And yet there have been signs of disquiet in the Python kingdom. —Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2024
Verb
His Blackness disquieted the American ideals and sensibilities that proclaim us all equal. —Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 26 May 2023 There are many conservatives, in politics and the media, who are disquieted about what DeSantis has done, vis-à-vis Disney. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 8 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for disquiet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disquiet
  1. turmoil
  2. concern
  3. alarm
  4. unrest
  5. fear
  6. worry
  7. unease
  8. anxiety
Noun
  • Stock futures plunged and after-hours trading descended into turmoil as Trump pledged steep tariffs on some of the U.S.'s top trading partners.
    — Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
  • President Trump’s tariffs cause turmoil among the markets and U.S. allies.
    — Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of turmoil
Noun
  • Now, in the case of the United States, there’s no concern whatsoever with what anybody thinks on the outside.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
  • That’s a major concern for media as advertisers review budgets.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of concern
Verb
  • Inspired by the urgent call from birth justice leaders and alarming CDC statistics showing Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women.
    — Melissa Noel, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Beyond that, Europe and Canada were alarmed last month when the United States split with European allies by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three United Nations resolutions seeking an end to the war.
    — Lorne Cook and Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of alarm
Noun
  • In 1968, amid urban unrest eerily similar to the tensions today, dedicated scholars built institutes such as the Urban Institute and Johns Hopkins’ Center for Metropolitan Planning and Research to bring rigorous evidence to bear on pressing social problems.
    — Andrew V. Papachristos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Political unrest urged by anti-Trump liberals, coupled with attacks on Tesla vehicles and dealerships due to founder Elon Musk’s close association with the president, appears to be pushing some people to buy guns for self-defense.
    — Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of unrest
Noun
  • The spread of antivaccine misinformation in the previous year had caused fear and uncertainty, which kept many families from vaccinating their children against measles.
    — Dr. Josh Green, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
  • By the end of the month, the new moon in Taurus invites you to embrace more intimacy and transformation in your love life, even if that means facing your fears in the process.
    — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of fear
Verb
  • Throughout the night, Booker read letters from constituents worried about losing access to affordable health care, emphasizing that these concerns were not abstract but deeply personal for millions of people.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Musk ‘brand tornado crisis’ hits sales Analysts continue to worry that Musk’s actions elsewhere are hurting Tesla.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of worry
Noun
  • Even when upheaval isn’t imminent within your organization, broad societal and economic shifts can create a sense of unease, as external stressors inevitably impact workplace morale.
    — Michael McFall, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • What is new, however, is the atmosphere of unease ushered in by Donald Trump’s return to power.
    — Alex Ashley, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of unease
Noun
  • Consumer sentiment fell sharply in April, marking the fourth consecutive month of declines, as an intensifying trade war fueled anxiety over American jobs and rising inflation.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • For the next year, Munn battled postpartum anxiety.
    — Danielle Pergament, SELF, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of anxiety

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disqualifying
disquiet
disquieted
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Cite this Entry

“Disquiet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disquiet. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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