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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
financial investors don't like an unstable economy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in changing
not staying constant
unstable temperatures are not ideal storage conditions for wine
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unstable
Violence is what grows in the vacuum left when schools lose funding, housing is unstable, mental health care is unavailable and jobs vanish.
—
Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
In an era of such rapid and enormous change, the characteristics that defined an American, an American body, and, therefore, American citizenship itself were unstable and uncertain.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Lowers Risk of Chronic Disease Eggs are rich in antioxidants, which are plant compounds that reduce cell damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals in the body.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
The California Coastal Commission approved emergency construction last month after several sections of the rail, which lie below bluffs, were deemed unstable and at immediate risk of landslide and coastal erosion.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
In an era of such rapid and enormous change, the characteristics that defined an American, an American body, and, therefore, American citizenship itself were unstable and uncertain.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Lowers Risk of Chronic Disease Eggs are rich in antioxidants, which are plant compounds that reduce cell damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals in the body.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
The California Coastal Commission approved emergency construction last month after several sections of the rail, which lie below bluffs, were deemed unstable and at immediate risk of landslide and coastal erosion.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
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The camera swirls around the scene, unsteady and swift.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
16 May 2025
-
It’s maintained an idiosyncratic spirit all along, combining references from across rock history—a Bob Dylan harmonica line here, a Cars synth line there—with lyrics that unspool in unsteady, careening cadences.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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But make no mistake: the situation remains extremely volatile.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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Israel’s strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unawares, is the latest sign of a more volatile world.—
Rob Gillies,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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But the event comes at a highly precarious time, amid nationwide protests which started in Los Angeles when people rallied against raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
11 June 2025
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Put aside the dumb optics of Abrams tanks rolling through DC, this is happening at a precarious moment.—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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Entrepreneurs who want to survive must meet our current reality by staying as flexible as the market is unpredictable.—
Cynthia Pong,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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Netflix offers premium, brand-safe content in a streaming environment that’s becoming increasingly fragmented and unpredictable.—
Shannon Carroll,
Quartz,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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That means Juno’s radio transmissions will experience the Doppler effect, where the wavelength shifts slightly in response to Io’s uneven gravitational field.—
Robin Andrews,
Wired News,
15 June 2025
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Avoid wobbly or uneven fittings to keep everything centered.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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The implications were profound: With a lot of rocky material, tidal heating can make oceans of magma.—
Robin Andrews,
Wired News,
15 June 2025
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The first two miles are the hardest, composed of rocky stairs and switchbacks winding steeply up the side of the mountain.—
Eva Frederick,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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Vietnam is also dealing with a unbalanced gender ratio, partly because of a long-standing preferences for sons.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 June 2025
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Most important, the legislation is massively expensive and will add further to the debt/deficit at a time when both are already extremely unbalanced.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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