unstable

adjective

un·​sta·​ble ˌən-ˈstā-bəl 

: not stable : not firm or fixed : not constant: such as

a

: not steady in action or movement : irregular

an unstable pulse

b

: wavering in purpose or intent : vacillating

c

: lacking steadiness : apt to move, sway, or fall

an unstable tower

d(1)

: liable to change or alteration

an unstable economy

unstable weather

(2)

: readily changing (as by decomposing) in chemical or physical composition or in biological activity

e

: characterized by lack of emotional control

unstableness noun

unstably

ˌən-ˈstā-b(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• unbalanced
• unsteady

Choose the Right Synonym for unstable

inconstant, fickle, capricious, mercurial, unstable mean lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion).

inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change.

an inconstant friend

fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness.

performers discover how fickle fans can be

capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability.

an utterly capricious critic

mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood.

made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament

unstable implies an incapacity for remaining in a fixed position or steady course and applies especially to a lack of emotional balance.

too unstable to hold a job

Examples of unstable in a Sentence

an unstable nuclear reactor core

the minute we put the books down on the unstable desk, the whole stack went crashing to the floor

Recent Examples on the Web

That has led to a janky, unstable product, as evidenced by his disastrous technology failures when interviewing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023 and Trump a couple of months ago. —Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2024

These decisions, rational from the perspective of any single international actor, produced an unstable equilibrium. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

The Harris campaign has said Trump is too old and unstable to hold office, echoing the calls that eventually led President Joe Biden to drop out of the race. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2024

The glow can evolve locally in unstable phenomena—such as FGFs and TGFs—leading to the inception of lightning. —Lee Billings, Scientific American, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unstable

• unstable angina

Kids Definition

unstable

adjective

un·​sta·​ble ˌən-ˈstā-bəl 

ˈən-

1

: not stable : not firm or fixed : fluctuating

unstable prices

an unstable tower

unstable weather

2

: readily changing in chemical composition or physical state or properties (as by breaking down into parts)

an unstable atomic nucleus

Medical Definition

unstable

adjective

un·​sta·​ble -ˈstā-bəl 

: not stable: as

a

: characterized by frequent or unpredictable changes

a patient in unstable condition

b

: readily changing (as by decomposing) in chemical composition or biological activity

unstable compounds

c

: characterized by lack of emotional control or stability