persistent unease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "persistent unease" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a continuous feeling of discomfort or anxiety about a situation or circumstance. Example: "Despite the beautiful surroundings, there was a persistent unease among the guests, as they sensed something was amiss."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The surprising decision underscores a persistent unease Mr. Weill seems to have with his investment bankers dating back more than 30 years.

The New York Times

Dagestan may have made him feel more at home than the United States, but it was a strange place to find comfort, given the nearly nonstop violence and the persistent unease it engenders among those who live here.

The New York Times

What will we do if a war comes here?" Yet, while support for the demilitarized zone appears to be widespread, interviews with ordinary people from Los Pozos to the municipal seat in San Vicente suggest a persistent unease.

The New York Times

They make it clear that a persistent unease suffuses the state on both the economic and political fronts.

Los Angeles Times

The somewhat encouraging news in Europe curbed safe-haven bids for U.S. and German government debt, but persistent unease about the region's debt woes and the gridlock in Washington deterred any meaningful selling in bonds.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Allan Pacey, the outgoing chair of the British Fertility Society, called the persistent unease "masturbation guilt".

The Guardian

There is a persistent tremor of unease on the subject of the EU/Glastonbury question.

The Guardian - Opinion

Likewise, the poems' formal breadth belies those thematic concerns – death, love, work; fear, wonder, nature – and the persistent aura of unease that have dominated Polley's work from the start.

The Guardian - Books

Maybe it was the persistent feeling of unease -- like I was missing something important.

Huffington Post

Ditto for Sterling K. Brown, who captures the persistent, sometimes apparently crippling, unease of the prosecutor Christopher Darden, who was pitted so awkwardly against his co-racialists, both outside and within the courtroom.

The New Yorker

The steadiness of the camera movements mixed with the grisly subject matter into a persistent mood of creepy unease, especially when juxtaposed with the odd, often emotionless line readings.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "persistent unease", ensure the context clearly establishes the source or cause of the unease. Providing specific details will enhance the reader's understanding and the phrase's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "persistent unease" without specifying what is causing the feeling. For instance, instead of saying "There was a persistent unease," specify "There was a persistent unease about the company's financial future".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "persistent unease" functions as a noun phrase, where "persistent" modifies the noun "unease". It describes a state of prolonged discomfort or anxiety. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, as shown in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "persistent unease" describes a lasting state of worry or discomfort and is grammatically correct. According to Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English. Although classified as uncommon in frequency, it finds consistent use in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to clearly specify the source or cause of the unease to enhance clarity. Alternatives such as "lingering anxiety" or "ongoing disquiet" can offer nuanced substitutions. Overall, "persistent unease" serves as a precise way to articulate a sustained feeling of anxiety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lingering anxiety

Emphasizes the long-lasting nature of the anxiety, similar to "persistent unease".

ongoing disquiet

Replaces "unease" with "disquiet", suggesting a disturbance of peace that continues over time.

chronic apprehension

Highlights the long-term and somewhat medicalized aspect of the anxiety.

constant worry

Focuses on the repetitive and uninterrupted nature of the worry.

abiding anxiety

Implies a long-lasting and unchanging feeling of anxiety.

unrelenting concern

Stresses the continuous and pressing nature of the concern.

enduring discomfort

Shifts the focus to a feeling of physical or mental discomfort that persists.

continuous trepidation

Suggests a state of fear or alarm that doesn't cease.

sustained agitation

Highlights a prolonged state of restlessness or anxiety.

remaining nervousness

Implies that a state of nervousness has not dissipated.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "persistent unease" in a sentence?

To effectively use "persistent unease", ensure your sentence clearly identifies the subject experiencing the unease and the cause of it. For example, "Despite the positive news, a "persistent unease" lingered in the team due to underlying issues".

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "persistent unease"?

You can use alternatives such as "lingering anxiety", "ongoing disquiet", or "chronic apprehension" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Each alternative offers a slightly different shade of meaning.

Is "persistent unease" a formal or informal expression?

"Persistent unease" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in formal writing and news reporting due to its descriptive and somewhat nuanced nature.

How does "persistent unease" differ from "general anxiety"?

"Persistent unease" suggests a specific, often identifiable, cause of discomfort or worry that lasts over time. "General anxiety", on the other hand, refers to a more diffuse and less directly attributable state of worry or nervousness.