un ‧ eas ‧ y /ʌnˈiːzi/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ ease , ↑ unease , ↑ easiness , uneasiness; adverb : ↑ easily , ↑ uneasily , ↑ easy ; adjective : ↑ easy , ↑ uneasy ; verb : ↑ ease ]
1 . worried or slightly afraid because you think that something bad might happen
uneasy about
Ninety percent of those questioned felt uneasy about nuclear power.
2 . used to describe a period of time when people have agreed to stop fighting or arguing, but which is not really calm
uneasy peace/truce/alliance/compromise
The treaty restored an uneasy peace to the country.
3 . not comfortable, peaceful, or relaxed:
She eventually fell into an uneasy sleep.
—uneasily adverb :
Bill shifted uneasily in his chair.
Charles’ concern for the environment sits uneasily with (=does not fit well with) his collection of powerful cars.
—uneasiness noun [uncountable]
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ nouns
▪ an uneasy peace
There was an uneasy peace in the region for nearly three years before the conflict flared up again.
▪ an uneasy truce
It was an uneasy truce, however, and tension was never far from the surface.
▪ an uneasy calm
Things seemed quiet enough, but it was an uneasy calm.
▪ an uneasy alliance/relationship
The government is based on an uneasy alliance between Christian Democrats and Socialists.
▪ an uneasy compromise
The result was an uneasy compromise which no-one liked.