destabilize
verb
de·sta·bi·lize
(ˌ)dē-ˈstā-bə-ˌlīz 
destabilized; destabilizing; destabilizes
1
: to make unstable
2
: to cause (something, such as a government) to be incapable of functioning or surviving
Examples of destabilize in a Sentence
The group hoped the assassination of the new President would destabilize the government.
Economists warn that the crisis could destabilize the nation's currency.
Recent Examples on the Web
Officials across the alliance have warned Russia is adept at hybrid warfare, a term that broadly refers to tactics designed to undermine or destabilize opponents but falling short of open conflict.
—
Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Several separate but interconnected developments over the past two weeks destabilized the legislature and cast a pall over the regular session’s final days.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025
Alternatively, if there were planets orbiting exterior to both stars, the change in the mass distribution of the system could have potentially destabilized their orbits.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2025
The Swiss government has expressed concerns that instability or an outright default at UBS — whose balance sheet is nearly double the country’s gross domestic product — could destabilize Switzerland’s financial system.
—Chloe Taylor,sawdah Bhaimiya,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for destabilize
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Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Several separate but interconnected developments over the past two weeks destabilized the legislature and cast a pall over the regular session’s final days.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025
Alternatively, if there were planets orbiting exterior to both stars, the change in the mass distribution of the system could have potentially destabilized their orbits.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2025
The Swiss government has expressed concerns that instability or an outright default at UBS — whose balance sheet is nearly double the country’s gross domestic product — could destabilize Switzerland’s financial system.
—Chloe Taylor,sawdah Bhaimiya,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for destabilize
Cite this Entry
“Destabilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destabilize. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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