1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
we've been having a lot of unsettled weather lately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unpaid
not yet paid
I keep unsettled bills next to the checkbook
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pending
not yet settled or decided
we can't move on as long as this important question remains unsettled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something
I'm still unsettled about whether I should take that job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in disturbed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unsettled
Philip Elliott, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
The district approved a $9.9 billion budget in July without accounting for the costs of a new, unsettled teachers contract or a $175 million pension payment to the city.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
Pitchfork, 5 Dec. 2024
The political instability has already unsettled financial markets.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unsettled
Adjective
The striking split-screen Saturday hinted at the deeply unsettled moment in politics, as our most famous billionaires offer competing views of how to fix Washington.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
The district approved a $9.9 billion budget in July without accounting for the costs of a new, unsettled teachers contract or a $175 million pension payment to the city.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
You may be unsettled by how similar Statik can sound, at times, to any number of previous slow-burn atmospheric thinkers in electronic music—from the ’90s ambient-techno greats through to earlier Actress tunes to today.
—Pitchfork, 5 Dec. 2024
The political instability has already unsettled financial markets.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unsettled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettled
Adjective
-
His masculinity, though less volatile, is as stunted as Stanley’s.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Against this volatile backdrop, CNBC Pro screened for S & P 500 companies whose shares have quickly been losing steam.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
And the tournament itself generates millions of dollars’ worth of unpaid advertising on behalf of the teams playing in it.—
Howard Homonoff,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
-
The latest smishing campaign involves scammers texting about unpaid toll charges.—
Dan Avery,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As a pending unrestricted free agent, he can be acquired as a rental ahead of the deadline and the cost shouldn’t be too prohibitive given his limited offensive output this season.—
Chris Johnston,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
-
While at the Caracas airport, Cabello said that all those returning would be subject to health checks and those with pending criminal charges would be placed in the hands of the courts.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC News,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The effective gag order has left nonprofit leaders, local governments and tribes stunned and unsure about how to move forward in spending the EPA grants they were awarded.—
MaryAlice Parks,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Starvation could have been a cause of death but officials are still unsure, Phipps said, noting that dogs do not get sick from hantavirus.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Plants with vining stems or long tap roots can be difficult to transplant and other plants simply don’t like to have their roots disturbed after planting.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Jan. 2025
-
The relationship quickly unearthed something that disturbed him.—
Joshua Kaplan,
ProPublica,
4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Sometimes, as today’s business leaders are well aware, the future is unpredictable, and its demands are unprecedented.—
Anar Mammadov,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
-
March Madness will always be unpredictable—but that doesn't mean your bracket has to be.—
Kilty Cleary,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to the ensemble prize, Short also won outstanding performance by a male actor in a comedy series.—
Rania Aniftos,
Billboard,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Densmore also had three outstanding warrants out of Illinois.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Always Make Repair Attempts Contrary to popular belief, conflict itself isn’t what ruins relationships, but its products can—specifically, unresolved resentment.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The field is increasingly engulfed in darkness, and—with the score tied—the players must choose between the reckless absurdity of playing a night game without lights and the eternal purgatory of leaving the final contest unresolved.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsettled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettled. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share