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
Roads and bridges buckled as the city lost power and water, with many newly homeless residents or people living in unstable buildings forced to live on the streets without access to sanitation as aftershocks continued to rock the region.
—
Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Concerns were raised in recent weeks that Musk is spending too much time on DOGE and not enough on Tesla amid an unstable period for the company.
—Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025
These unstable molecules contain oxygen and can severely damage cellular components and even lead to cell death.
—Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 19 Apr. 2025
But the reality is that everyone feels the heat when life is unstable—even therapists.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Concerns were raised in recent weeks that Musk is spending too much time on DOGE and not enough on Tesla amid an unstable period for the company.
—Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025
These unstable molecules contain oxygen and can severely damage cellular components and even lead to cell death.
—Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 19 Apr. 2025
But the reality is that everyone feels the heat when life is unstable—even therapists.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
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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
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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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Core inflation, which excludes more volatile energy, food, alcohol and tobacco prices, rose by 3.4% in the year to March, down slightly from 3.5% in February.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
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
Adjective
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Finding a job is always a challenge, especially in the current precarious economic climate.—
Iris Dorbian,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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Comments As an avid shopper, my closet is often overflowing with clothes, which makes packing for trips a precarious experience.—
Bria McNeal,
Travel + Leisure,
25 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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Spring temps can be unpredictable, so don’t forget to add on a pashmina-style shawl and some statement earrings.—
Jené Luciani Sena,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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The bill's ambiguity could lead to uneven policies across the country, meaning some states and municipalities will enforce stricter document requirements than others.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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 1 May. 2025.
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