unsettled

adjective

un·​set·​tled ˌən-ˈse-tᵊld 

: not settled: such as

a(1)

: not calm or tranquil : disturbed

unsettled political conditions

(2)

: likely to vary widely especially in the near future : variable

unsettled weather

(3)

: not settled down

unsettled dust

b(1)

: not decided or determined : doubtful

an unsettled state of mind

(2)

: not resolved or worked out : undecided

an unsettled question

c

: characterized by irregularity

an unsettled life

d

: not inhabited or populated

unsettled land

e

: not mentally sound

f(1)

: not disposed of according to law

an unsettled estate

(2)

: not paid or discharged

unsettled debts

unsettledness

ˌən-ˈse-tᵊl(d)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• capricious
• changeable
• changeful
• fickle
• flickery
• fluctuating
• fluid
• inconsistent
• inconstant
• mercurial
• mutable
• skittish
• temperamental
• uncertain
• unpredictable
• unstable
• unsteady
• variable
• volatile

Examples of unsettled in a Sentence

We have some unsettled business to attend to.

we've been having a lot of unsettled weather lately

Recent Examples on the Web

Litigation regarding the rights of players to unionize and potentially be considered employees remains unsettled. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024

This will bring a sense of stability to a highly unsettled situation. —Sandra Pretorius, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Her belief in Lydia’s unsettled spirit motivated her to search through one false lead after another. —Elizabeth Friend, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2024

Feeling unsettled by Dalloway’s increasingly intrusive presence, Clarissa is warned by Mathias, a whistleblower artist who tells her about the true motives behind the residency and the tech company funding it. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

unsettled

adjective

un·​set·​tled ˌən-ˈset-ᵊld 

ˈən-

1

: not settled : not fixed (as in position or nature)

unsettled weather

2

: not calm : disturbed

unsettled waters

3

: not decided in mind : undetermined

unsettled about what to do

4

: not paid

an unsettled account

5

: not lived in by settlers

an unsettled region