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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2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
financial investors don't like an unstable economy
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3
as in changing
not staying constant
unstable temperatures are not ideal storage conditions for wine
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as in instability
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position
if the tunnel had been properly inspected, the unstableness of the overhead concrete panels would have been discovered in time
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unstable
Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
The office administers billions of dollars in grants to support low- and moderate-income people, including funding for affordable housing, homeless shelters and disaster recovery, raising the prospect that these forms of aid might one day be paid in an unstable currency.
—Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 2 Apr. 2025
Tesla is facing continued pressure both financially and culturally, and for many of its top competitors, its space in the car market looks unstable.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
This unstable dwelling, with its crumbling walls and lack of proper bedrooms for the children, comes to stand for a far more sinister lack of boundaries.
—Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Adjective
The ecosystem remains unstable in spite of investments and the introduction of new tools.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
The office administers billions of dollars in grants to support low- and moderate-income people, including funding for affordable housing, homeless shelters and disaster recovery, raising the prospect that these forms of aid might one day be paid in an unstable currency.
—Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 2 Apr. 2025
Tesla is facing continued pressure both financially and culturally, and for many of its top competitors, its space in the car market looks unstable.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
This unstable dwelling, with its crumbling walls and lack of proper bedrooms for the children, comes to stand for a far more sinister lack of boundaries.
—Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
-
Something long and meandering like this: For the next four years, the United States will be an unpredictable, unsteady global superpower run by a fascist oligarchy, in which the people’s representatives cater to a madman’s whim.—
Eli Grober,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
-
An unsteady job market has contributed to rising scrutiny around large corporations, also a driving theme of the season.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But her life is unexpectedly upended by the arrival of a new student in her class: her charming but volatile younger brother Merritt.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
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In volatile markets, that can be the difference between burning capital and building advantage.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
If leadership lacks consistency, teams will follow that instability.—
Carlos Hoyos,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Rising political instability like ongoing tensions in the Middle East and Pacific Rim also typically fuel defense stocks.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has placed himself in a precarious situation.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
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Rodriguez wasn't the only G20 star to get into a precarious situation while making the movie.—
Joey Nolfi,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The source said Republicans view Powell as an important pillar of stability in the U.S. economy amid Trump’s unpredictable tariff war against foreign trading partners, including allies such as Canada, Japan, South Korean and Taiwan.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
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Understanding regional industry nuances and navigating unpredictable sales cycles are as critical as technological advancement.—
Jamil Wyne,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But with the addition of meaty tires, the result is bobbling side to side on uneven pavement, and the occasional entertaining hop over water channels at boulevard intersections.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Milling disk grab ability Milling disks with rough, uneven edges around the milling holes work well for grabbing food during processing.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The site includes a central area with a cross vault and large caryatids with baskets, a large niche with a rocky backdrop and fountain, and three arms.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
16 Apr. 2025
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The second iteration of the event was already off to a rocky start after tickets went on sale in February, when the Isla Mujeres government said that no permits had been approved for the fest.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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At the time that Keynes and Robinson were writing, the cost of beggar-thy-neighbor policies came mainly in the form of higher unemployment, as higher exports—unbalanced by higher imports—undermined manufacturers in trade deficit countries and forced them to lay off workers.—
Michael Pettis,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Apr. 2025
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With unsustainable low interest rates driving up housing valuations for years, the market has been unbalanced for 5 plus years now.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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