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
Synonyms
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
Historically, instability on the Korean Peninsula has tended to spill over into China, and an influx of refugees could destabilize China’s northeast and potentially much more.
—
Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024
Many of his most famous collections recalled the 19th century as a period of both luxury and instability.
—TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
Cynicism pervades as many deal with oversize student loans, grapple with financial instability, and face an uphill battle to afford incredibly pricey life milestones like buying a house, having kids, or retiring.
—Bychloe Berger, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
Many are spurred by geopolitical instability, including economic crisis and crime in Venezuela, violence in Congo, and humanitarian crises across other parts of Africa and the Middle East.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
The battle is rooted in a centuries-old thirst for power that has defined the country’s troubled history of political instability.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
On Tuesday, however, Bortnikov accused the CIA and Britain’s MI6 intelligence agency of interfering in Afghanistan with the goal of creating instability on the southern border of CIS countries, including Tajikistan.
—Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
The normalization efforts with Israel spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates have papered over what countries like Jordan say is inevitable instability as long as that issue is unaddressed.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
And at least twice since the coup, errant bombs have landed inside China, which has become ever more frustrated with the instability and disruption in Myanmar.
—Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024
Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024
Many of his most famous collections recalled the 19th century as a period of both luxury and instability.
—TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
Cynicism pervades as many deal with oversize student loans, grapple with financial instability, and face an uphill battle to afford incredibly pricey life milestones like buying a house, having kids, or retiring.
—Bychloe Berger, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
Many are spurred by geopolitical instability, including economic crisis and crime in Venezuela, violence in Congo, and humanitarian crises across other parts of Africa and the Middle East.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
The battle is rooted in a centuries-old thirst for power that has defined the country’s troubled history of political instability.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
On Tuesday, however, Bortnikov accused the CIA and Britain’s MI6 intelligence agency of interfering in Afghanistan with the goal of creating instability on the southern border of CIS countries, including Tajikistan.
—Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
The normalization efforts with Israel spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates have papered over what countries like Jordan say is inevitable instability as long as that issue is unaddressed.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
And at least twice since the coup, errant bombs have landed inside China, which has become ever more frustrated with the instability and disruption in Myanmar.
—Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'instability.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near instability
Cite this Entry
“Instability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instability. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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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