uhn-EE-zee-nuhs
/ˌʌˈnizinəs/
uneasiness is pronounced uhn-EE-zee-nuhs (/ˌʌˈnizinəs/). Uneasiness refers to a feeling of worry, discomfort, or slight anxiety. It denotes a vague sense of unease that unsettles the mind and body, often preceding a more definite emotion or reaction. The term emphasizes the subjective, non-specific nature of the discomfort rather than a concrete fear or danger.
Uneasiness refers to a feeling of worry, discomfort, or slight anxiety. It denotes a vague sense of unease that unsettles the mind and body, often preceding a more definite emotion or reaction. The term emphasizes the subjective, non-specific nature of the discomfort rather than a concrete fear or danger.
"There was a noticeable uneasiness in the room as the meeting began."
"She spoke with uneasiness about the results, unsure what they would mean."
"His uneasiness grew when the clock ticked toward midnight."
You pronounce it as /ˌənˈiːzɪnəs/ (US) or /ˌənˈiːzɪnəs/ (UK/AU). The stress lands on the second syllable in the base pattern: un-EA-siness, with the long EE sound in the stressed vowel. Start with the weak schwa in the first syllable, then a long /iː/ for 'ea', followed by /z/ and a reduced /ɪ/ in the 'ni' portion, and end with /əs/. Listen for a smooth transition from /iː/ to /z/ and then to a quick /nəs/ ending.
Two common errors: misplacing the primary stress (e.g., un-EASIness) leading to a flatter rhythm; or mispronouncing the middle 'ea' as /iː/ without the correct /z/ sequence (e.g., un-ee-zin-ess). Correct by modeling the /ˌənˈiːzɪnəs/ pattern: a soft initial schwa, then a crisp /iː/ before the /z/; keep the /z/ voiced and avoid a separate /ɪ/ before /n/. Make the ending /əs/ light and quick.
In US, UK, and AU, the pattern remains /ˌənˈiːzɪnəs/, but vowel quality can vary: US often has a slightly longer /iː/ and a clearer /z/; UK and AU may feature a lighter domestic /ɪ/ before /n/ and a smaller vowel reduction in the final /əs/. Rhoticity affects only adjacent vowels, not the stressed syllable here. Overall, the rhythm stays unstressed-strong, but placement and duration of the /iː/ and the consonant clarity differ subtly.
The challenge is the long /iː/ immediately preceded by a weak /ən/ cluster, which can cause blending with the following /z/. The sequence /iːz/ requires a clean, immediate /z/ without inserting a separate vowel; the final /nəs/ also demands light, quick articulation to avoid a heavy ending. Additionally, the multi-syllable word places primary stress on the second syllable, which can be easy to misplace in rapid speech.
A distinctive feature is the long /iː/ following a weak first syllable, which can trip learners who expect 'un' to be the main emphasis. The mid-word /z/ is a narrow, voiced fricative that should be crisper than a typical 's' sound, but not as forceful as a 'z' in zeal. The ending /nəs/ has a light, almost syllabic /n/ before the unstressed /əs/. Mastery comes from keeping a steady tempo and not letting the /iː/ overshadow the /z/.
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Uneasiness is formed from un- (a negative prefix) + eas(e) (from Old English eagan? actually ease) and -ness (a noun-forming suffix). The base word ease, meaning freedom from difficulty or distress, originates in Old French aisier/seisir via Latin facilis, but in English it traces through Old English ēāsian to ease. The prefix un- attaches to convey the negation of ease, yielding unease as a state contrary to comfort. The suffix -ness turns the adjective uneasy into a noun describing the state or condition. The compound uneasiness has long been used in English to characterize a psychological state lacking clear danger but marked by discomfort or mistrust. First attested senses refer to mental discomfort and later to general anxiety states; modern usage widens to include mild, persistent worry in various contexts. The term’s evolution mirrors shifts in English to describe internal states as opposed to overt fears, with uneasiness functioning as a softer, more everyday descriptor than anxiety or dread. Historically, uneasiness could imply both emotional and bodily symptoms, including restlessness and tension, and remains common in clinical and literary registers as a nuanced emotional condition.
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Words that rhyme with "uneasiness"
-ess sounds
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