instability
noun
in·sta·bil·i·ty
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
: the quality or state of being unstable
especially
: lack of emotional or mental stability
Examples of instability in a Sentence
Investors are worried about the current instability of the stock market.
The patient has a history of emotional instability.
Recent Examples on the Web
At that stage, the precision was still limited by the instability of the laser.
—
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
The initiative also began a pilot rental assistance program over the summer for households at risk of eviction or instability.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
His childhood moved fast—13 schools in 11 years, ricocheting across state lines and shaped by instability at home.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Harwicz’s novels are more hallucinatory than supernatural—but a more provocative distinction between her books and others in this semi-subgenre is that, for her characters, motherhood does not cause animal rage and instability so much as instantiate them.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instability
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Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
The initiative also began a pilot rental assistance program over the summer for households at risk of eviction or instability.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
His childhood moved fast—13 schools in 11 years, ricocheting across state lines and shaped by instability at home.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Harwicz’s novels are more hallucinatory than supernatural—but a more provocative distinction between her books and others in this semi-subgenre is that, for her characters, motherhood does not cause animal rage and instability so much as instantiate them.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instability
Cite this Entry
“Instability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instability. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instability
noun
in·sta·bil·i·ty
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē
: the quality or state of being unstable
Medical Definition
instability
noun
in·sta·bil·i·ty
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē
plural instabilities
: the quality or state of being unstable
especially
: lack of emotional or mental stability
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