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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 unstable
Is High in Antioxidants Orange juice is rich in healthy nutrients called antioxidants, compounds that help prevent cell damage from unstable molecules called free radical damage in a process known as oxidative stress.
—
Aviv Joshua, Ms, Verywell Health, 11 Feb. 2025
However, the ice was unstable and the search had to be suspended, troopers said.
—Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 10 Feb. 2025
She had been placed in a four-cell unit with mentally unstable inmates.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Palestinians living there were not granted Egyptian citizenship, and Gaza remained impoverished and politically unstable.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Aviv Joshua, Ms, Verywell Health, 11 Feb. 2025
However, the ice was unstable and the search had to be suspended, troopers said.
—Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 10 Feb. 2025
She had been placed in a four-cell unit with mentally unstable inmates.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Palestinians living there were not granted Egyptian citizenship, and Gaza remained impoverished and politically unstable.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
-
And will assuredly remain so, barring a highly unexpected climb up the standings from a team that has been unsteady all season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2025
-
While working a route in Aurora’s 9th Ward, Lockhart noticed an elderly man out walking his dog who was unsteady, ultimately falling and injuring his head.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Hence, despite its extremely high valuation, the stock appears attractive but volatile, which supports our conclusion that AVGO is a tricky stock to buy.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Wall Street ultimately found the business too volatile and debt-heavy to get fully behind the stock.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
As for who is in the most precarious position — and who seems the safest — here’s a ranking, going from the hottest seat to the coolest: 1.—
Seth Emerson,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Recent events, like 23andMe going bankrupt, highlight just how precarious the situation can be.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Inspired by the euphoric highs and unpredictable chaos of real-life festivals, SAINt set out to craft a project that feels just as immersive as the events that shaped it.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
21 Feb. 2025
-
While beneficial, these technologies add complexity to network management, particularly in areas such as traffic routing, policy enforcement, and handling the unpredictable workloads generated by AI.—
Serge Lucio,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Connecticut transit riders urged lawmakers to bolster funding and services for the state’s local commuter railroads on Wednesday, as ridership continues to experience an uneven rebound from the pandemic.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Two different curling irons — a 1-inch and a 1.5-inch — gave the pro uneven waves for a more natural feel.—
Jackie Fields,
People.com,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Around 700 million years ago, Earth was a frozen, white sphere, its rocky surface buried kilometers under ice.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Asteroids, also known as minor planets, are rocky, airless objects that originated from the early formation of our solar system approximately 4.6 billion years ago.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
While caring for your significant other is natural and often necessary, consistently acting as a caretaker can create an unbalanced dynamic that leaves both individuals dissatisfied.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
-
Several pundits have argued that the top four seed lines should not be reserved for conference champions in the future because that requirement caused this year’s bracket to become unbalanced.—
Nicole Auerbach,
NBC News,
19 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share