English vocabulary · C2
Disquiet
/dɪˈskwaɪət/ · n.
Disquiet is a quiet worry that something is wrong. Nothing is clear yet, but you cannot feel calm.
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Example sentences
- The silence caused disquiet at school.
- Factory closure spread disquiet.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- dis — not (from Latin)
- quiet — calm (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- UNEASE — a worried feeling (Not at ease)
- ANXIETY — ongoing worry (Fear about what comes)
- MISGIVING — doubt about what follows (A bad feeling)
Words with the same root
quiet — calm
- quiet — calm and still
Lesson notes
Disquiet is a quiet worry that something is wrong. Nothing is clear yet, but you cannot feel calm.
Related: unease, anxiety, misgiving. Use disquiet when quiet worry spreads.
The silence caused disquiet at school. Factory closure spread disquiet.
From Latin. Dis- means not. Quiet means calm. Not calm: a faint worry keeps growing. That is disquiet.