1
as in unsteady
not being in or able to maintain a state of balance
the minute we put the books down on the unstable desk, the whole stack went crashing to the floor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
financial investors don't like an unstable economy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in changing
not staying constant
unstable temperatures are not ideal storage conditions for wine
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unstable
Beyond the cost of living, factors like unstable infrastructure, security risks and limited access to healthcare or amenities should be accounted for to ensure fair, motivating compensation and support talent retention in less favorable geographies.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
But instead of excitement, many are feeling growing anxiety about a job market that feels both unstable and confusing.
—Alex Backus, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
The order was in response to an emergency filing from lawyers who said their Vietnamese client was given little notice before being put on a plane to the African country, one of the world's poorest and most politically unstable.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 21 May 2025
Stage 1: In this stage, inflammation, as well as loose or unstable joints, is present.
—Isabel Casimiro, Verywell Health, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
But instead of excitement, many are feeling growing anxiety about a job market that feels both unstable and confusing.
—Alex Backus, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
The order was in response to an emergency filing from lawyers who said their Vietnamese client was given little notice before being put on a plane to the African country, one of the world's poorest and most politically unstable.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 21 May 2025
Stage 1: In this stage, inflammation, as well as loose or unstable joints, is present.
—Isabel Casimiro, Verywell Health, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
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It’s maintained an idiosyncratic spirit all along, combining references from across rock history—a Bob Dylan harmonica line here, a Cars synth line there—with lyrics that unspool in unsteady, careening cadences.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
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Not only that, but he was being fed an unsteady diet of cockroaches.—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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Other big miners, including archrivals BHP, Anglo American and Glencore, have steered clear of lithium, am important metal in batteries, but one which is also abundantly available puts suffers from extremely volatile pricing.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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Unlike traditional crypto payment providers that handle numerous volatile currencies, Coinsub Technology strategically specializes in stablecoins.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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As yields rise, borrowers—both corporate and individual—find themselves in a precarious position, with ripple effects that could dampen investment and consumer spending.—
Dan Irvine,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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The ship’s precarious position also makes the salvage operation unusually complex.—
Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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As federal environmental policy undergoes rapid and often unpredictable shifts through reversals, reinterpretations and sometimes outright dismantling, businesses are left navigating a compliance landscape that feels more like quicksand than solid ground.—
John F. McQuillan,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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Trump’s aggressive and unpredictable policies — including massive import taxes — have clouded the outlook for the economy as well as the job market and raised fears that the American economy is headed toward recession.—
Matt Ott,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Bread crumbs • Props to the hair, makeup, and costuming departments for differentiating Kiki’s Simone from pre-Michaela Simone, who showed up to the island with a scraggly ponytail, a gray button-down, uneven skin, and scrawled tattoos.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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Case for caution: On the flip side, skeptics point to the uneven performances, particularly internationally, and concerns about his hockey sense.—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Shot in Galicia, a landscape of rocky coasts and salty-blue air, this loosely biographical third feature from Catalan filmmaker Carla Simón, part of the Cannes competition slate, has a wistful, earthy glow.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
23 May 2025
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Light blues and navy intertwine as the waves lap Monaco’s rocky shores.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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His replacement, Hansi Flick, arrived to find an unbalanced squad that lacked a clear identity.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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The destroyer became unbalanced and was punctured in its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the stern section slid off first and became stuck, per the report.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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