: not steady: such as
a
: not firm or solid : not fixed in position : unstable
the colt's unsteady legs
an unsteady ladder
b
: marked by change or fluctuation : changeable
… the trends she traces are winding and unsteady …—
The Economist
The Economist
c
: not uniform or even : irregular
an unsteady pulse
d
: shaking or moving because of nervousness, weakness, etc.
signed with an unsteady hand
un·steady
ˌən-ˈste-dē 
unsteadied; unsteadying; unsteadies
: to make unsteady
rough seas unsteadied his gait
Examples of unsteady in a Sentence
Adjective
He was a little unsteady on his feet.
The horse walked with an unsteady gait.
He signed his name with an unsteady hand.
The progress of the work has been unsteady.
a period of unsteady growth
Recent Examples on the Web
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
The archive of material Habak shot over years offers an intimate and visceral experience of life on the ground – the unsteady ground shaken by constant aerial assaults.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2019
The rocks shifted and wobbled beneath my feet as the robust current pushed against my legs, unsteadying me.
—Cheryl Strayed, Vogue, 17 July 2018
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
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Adjective
As professionals try to navigate the unsteady road, the know-how and expertise of film commissions will become even more valuable.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
The archive of material Habak shot over years offers an intimate and visceral experience of life on the ground – the unsteady ground shaken by constant aerial assaults.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
The changes offered purpose and vital human connections that seemed to serve as moorings in a life too routinely unsteadied by the gathering gloom.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2019
The rocks shifted and wobbled beneath my feet as the robust current pushed against my legs, unsteadying me.
—Cheryl Strayed, Vogue, 17 July 2018
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Cite this Entry
“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsteady. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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