unrest has spread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unrest has spread" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where disturbances or conflicts have increased in scope or intensity. For example: "In recent weeks, unrest has spread across several regions, prompting government intervention." Alternative expressions include "tension has escalated" and "discontent has grown."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The unrest has spread to Tunis, the capital.

The New York Times

The unrest has spread to other towns and villages.

The Guardian

The unrest has spread to at least three cities in the western part of the country.

Independent

Also as in 2005, the current unrest has spread outside Paris.

The Guardian

Unrest has spread to the nearby towns of Inkhil, Jasim and Nawa, and rural areas around Damascus, witnesses said.

The Guardian

It can't explain, however, how the unrest has spread to multiple towns, where people, joined by the Internet and word of mouth, have vowed not to stop.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

In Romania, news media reported that the unrest had spread over the past week to about 60 cities nationwide.

The New York Times

By October 24th unrest had spread across the state.The bloodshed in June was sparked by the rape and murder of a Rakhine girl.

The Economist

By then, the fires of the unrest had spread, raging northward to Padder, southwards to Jammu, the winter capital of Indian-administered-Kashmir and its suburbs.

The New York Times

The same day, America's senior military officer said in a television interview that officials in Washington had been surprised by how rapidly unrest had spread from Tunisia to Egypt.

The New York Times

And yesterday, activists claimed that unrest had spread to other detention centres.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on sensitive situations, use "unrest has spread" to accurately convey the geographical or sectoral expansion of the disturbance. Provide specific details about the locations or areas affected to give a clearer picture of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "unrest has spread" without specifying where or how it has spread. Vague statements can lead to misinterpretations and a lack of clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unrest has spread" functions as a declarative statement describing the expansion of a state of disturbance or conflict. This usage aligns with Ludwig's indication that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unrest has spread" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, predominantly found in news and media contexts. It describes the expansion of disturbances or conflicts, conveying that an initial problem has broadened in scope or intensity. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While alternative expressions like "turmoil has escalated" or "conflict has broadened" exist, "unrest has spread" is a direct and clear way to report on escalating situations. For best practice, always specify the locations or areas to which the unrest has spread to provide a clearer picture.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turmoil has escalated

Replaces "unrest" with "turmoil" and "spread" with "escalated", emphasizing the increasing intensity of the disturbance.

chaos has expanded

Substitutes "unrest" with "chaos" and "spread" with "expanded", highlighting the disorderly nature of the situation.

disturbances have intensified

Replaces "unrest" with "disturbances" and "spread" with "intensified", focusing on the growing strength of the disruptions.

conflict has broadened

Uses "conflict" instead of "unrest" and "broadened" instead of "spread", suggesting a widening of the area affected by the conflict.

protests have proliferated

Replaces "unrest" with "protests" and "spread" with "proliferated", emphasizing the rapid increase in the number of protests.

discontent has diffused

Substitutes "unrest" with "discontent" and "spread" with "diffused", focusing on the widespread dissemination of dissatisfaction.

uprising has advanced

Uses "uprising" instead of "unrest" and "advanced" instead of "spread", indicating the forward movement and progression of the revolt.

instability has radiated

Replaces "unrest" with "instability" and "spread" with "radiated", suggesting that the instability is emanating from a central point.

agitation has permeated

Substitutes "unrest" with "agitation" and "spread" with "permeated", emphasizing the thorough saturation of an area with unrest.

resistance has extended

Uses "resistance" instead of "unrest" and "extended" instead of "spread", highlighting the increasing reach of the opposition.

FAQs

How can I use "unrest has spread" in a sentence?

You can use "unrest has spread" to describe situations where disturbances are expanding. For example, "Following the initial protests, "unrest has spread" to neighboring cities."

What are some alternatives to saying "unrest has spread"?

Alternatives include phrases like "turmoil has escalated", "conflict has broadened", or "protests have proliferated", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "unrest is spreading" instead of "unrest has spread"?

Both "unrest is spreading" and ""unrest has spread"" are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "Unrest is spreading" describes an ongoing process, while "unrest has spread" describes a completed action with present implications.

What kind of events does "unrest has spread" usually describe?

"Unrest has spread" is typically used to describe situations involving political instability, social disturbances, labor disputes, or any situation where conflict or disruption is expanding to new areas or sectors.