stir unease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stir unease" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or action that causes feelings of discomfort or anxiety among people. Example: "The sudden changes in policy began to stir unease among the employees, leading to a decline in morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Any erosion is bound to stir unease.

The New York Times

It may be the most unhelpful acquisition Q.&A. of all time, bound only to stir unease in AuthenTec's employees and customers.

The New York Times

And Mitt Romney of Massachusetts released a television advertisement Monday emphasizing faith and family values in what aides said was an effort to stir unease about Mr. Giuliani among conservative voters who have gravitated toward him.

The New York Times

For Mr. Obama, the risks of fighting back are that anything that calls attention to the racial dynamics of the contest would potentially polarize voters and stir unease about his candidacy, particularly among white voters in swing states.

The New York Times

PAGE A8 Arrests Stir Unease in Iraq Arrests of journalists in Iraq, and the jailing of a professor accused of defaming Kurdish leaders, raise the question of how far Iraq will travel toward democracy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But her agreeability stirred unease.

The New York Times

In Mexico, Trump's rise has stirred unease and indignation.

The Guardian

The sweeping nature of the arrests and murky judicial procedures have stirred unease.

The New York Times

The effect that C.C.S. projects could have on property prices has also stirred unease.

The New York Times

The spate of incidents has stirred unease in the world of fashion, where image and celebrity endorsements are worth millions.

The New York Times

[The Associated Press] While many welcome the oil income, fracking operations on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana has stirred unease among some of the tribe's members.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stir unease" to describe situations or actions that cause a subtle or underlying feeling of anxiety and discomfort, often in the context of potential or anticipated problems.

Common error

Avoid using "stir unease" when a stronger term is more appropriate. If the situation causes significant fear or panic, consider using phrases like "cause alarm" or "incite panic" instead. Using a milder term might downplay the gravity of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stir unease" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "stir" acts as a transitive verb causing or prompting the feeling of "unease". Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of the phrase, and provides example sentences.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stir unease" is a grammatically sound and usable expression used to describe the act of causing a feeling of discomfort or anxiety. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's appropriate for use in written English. Although its frequency is rare, it's primarily found in news and media contexts, suggesting a neutral to slightly formal register. When using "stir unease", ensure that the intensity of the phrase matches the gravity of the situation being described, and consider stronger alternatives like "cause alarm" or "incite panic" for more critical situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provoke anxiety

Replaces "stir" with "provoke", emphasizing the act of instigating anxiety.

generate concern

Substitutes "unease" with "concern", focusing on a feeling of worry about something important.

foment disquiet

Uses more formal vocabulary, "foment" and "disquiet", to describe instigating a feeling of anxiety.

spark apprehension

Replaces "stir" with "spark", highlighting a sudden onset of apprehension.

incite worry

Replaces "stir" with "incite", focusing on encouraging or provoking worry.

arouse disquiet

Similar to 'foment disquiet', but uses 'arouse' to describe the generation of anxiety.

cause apprehension

A more direct way of saying something makes someone feel anxious or fearful.

create disquietude

Uses a more formal and less common term, "disquietude", for a feeling of anxiety.

prompt disquiet

Emphasizes the aspect of initiating a feeling of unease or anxiety.

induce anxiety

Similar to 'provoke anxiety', but uses 'induce' to highlight the causation of anxiety.

FAQs

How can I use "stir unease" in a sentence?

You can use "stir unease" to describe situations or actions that cause a feeling of discomfort or anxiety. For example, "The company's new policies began to "stir unease" among employees."

What's a more formal alternative to "stir unease"?

A more formal alternative could be "arouse disquiet" or "foment disquiet", which convey a similar meaning with a slightly elevated tone.

Is "stir unease" appropriate for describing a major crisis?

While "stir unease" can be used, it might be more suitable for describing underlying anxieties rather than full-blown crises. For a major crisis, terms like "incite panic" or "cause alarm" might be more fitting.

What words usually collocate with "stir unease"?

Typically, you'll find "stir unease" used with subjects like "policy changes", "economic forecasts", or "political decisions"—things that can cause a general feeling of discomfort or anxiety.