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
Through all of these shifting genres on the record, Menne’s voice remains an anchor, a feat which is all the more impressive considering that the band went into the studio during his first year of hormone therapy, when the voice is most unstable.
—
James Factora, Them., 2 Apr. 2025
Others face social barriers like food insecurity, unstable housing, or a lack of transportation, all of which directly impact health.
—The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
From the June 1993 issue: Re-hearing Bernstein The symphony now makes complete sense as an argument about the unstable nature of life.
—David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
The search effort -- which included law enforcement and military personnel from several countries -- was complicated by the muddy conditions and unstable ground, officials said.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
James Factora, Them., 2 Apr. 2025
Others face social barriers like food insecurity, unstable housing, or a lack of transportation, all of which directly impact health.
—The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
From the June 1993 issue: Re-hearing Bernstein The symphony now makes complete sense as an argument about the unstable nature of life.
—David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
The search effort -- which included law enforcement and military personnel from several countries -- was complicated by the muddy conditions and unstable ground, officials said.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
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Over the years the two musicians would meet, notably once in 1981 for a special benefit concert in Central Park, but notoriously had an unsteady relationship.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Now Raising Alarm in the US Meanwhile, business sentiment remains unsteady, with the National Federation of Independent Business' (NFIB) Uncertainty Index rising 4 points to 104 in February—its second-highest reading since the index's inception in 1973.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Relievers have always been volatile, prone to inconsistency and bouts of wildness.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
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Mitch McConnell Breaks with Trump by Blasting Global Tariff Plan: 'Trade Wars Hurt Working People Most' While stocks are volatile, experts advise relying on stable cash investments, which will be able to mitigate the years after retirement when people may need to dip into savings.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Join 1 other in the comments View Comments The tariffs in place and the uncertainty from the ones Trump has yet to announce have already dragged down the US economy at a precarious time, when a growing share of consumers are struggling financially.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2025
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Boston Fire Department officials said in the same news conference that the driver was stuck in a precarious position inside of the truck’s cab.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Fittingly, given the unpredictable nature of the campaign, who knows what the result or circumstances will be at Tottenham Hotspur on the day Hurzeler’s first season draws to a close?—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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Probably Not Complicating matters is that Trump’s trade policy is unpredictable.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The airflow also seemed uneven, requiring trays to be rotated during the dehydrating process.—
Jordan Liberty Phillips,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Apr. 2025
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After running out of steam with the uneven 1992 sister albums Lucky Town and Human Touch, Springsteen spent most of the decade raising his kids and tentatively circling a reunion with the E Street Band while searching for new directions.—
Ryan Leas,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But recording her debut album got off to a rocky start.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
5 Apr. 2025
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Cryptocurrency After Bitcoin posted its worst first-quarter performance since the first three months of 2018, according to Dow Jones Market Data, the digital currency's starting the next three months on rocky ground, too.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Months earlier, Charles Vallow had told police that his wife was threatening to kill him, describing her behavior as increasingly unbalanced.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2025
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Perhaps even more than that, PSG — long dismissed and derided as a hopelessly unbalanced gaggle of individual superstars — have become a team, widely respected for the remarkable industriousness of their football and the humble, unshowy brilliance of their young players.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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