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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
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His unsteady grip on reality means his decisions are guided by insecurity and ego, not the nation’s interests.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
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Even with that, the rest of the house poses an ongoing danger with anyone unsteady on one’s feet.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Wall Street ultimately found the business too volatile and debt-heavy to get fully behind the stock.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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At the same time, the resumption of hostilities in Syria could change everything, and the Russian military could suddenly find itself in a precarious and vulnerable position.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
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As a woman traveling alone, who is also four months pregnant, Alex quickly finds herself in one of the most precarious positions an immigrant seeking to be accepted into the U.S. could find themselves in during this time period in America’s history.—
Jackie Strause,
The Hollywood Reporter,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Fires are unpredictable, dangerous, and fast-moving, and every second counts.—
Andrew Ansbro,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2025
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And then there’s the appeals process itself, which remains one of the most unpredictable spectacles in the sport.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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
Adjective
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The attorney general asserts that the partnership carries a lack of justification in the public interest, is economically unbalanced toward Panama and affects competition.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Mar. 2025
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Although he was paired with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the team was horrendously unbalanced and had big problems when their star players didn’t track back.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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