unsettled

adjective

un·​set·​tled ˌən-ˈse-tᵊld 

: not settled: such as

a(1)

: not calm or tranquil : disturbed

unsettled political conditions

(2)

: likely to vary widely especially in the near future : variable

unsettled weather

(3)

: not settled down

unsettled dust

b(1)

: not decided or determined : doubtful

an unsettled state of mind

(2)

: not resolved or worked out : undecided

an unsettled question

c

: characterized by irregularity

an unsettled life

d

: not inhabited or populated

unsettled land

e

: not mentally sound

f(1)

: not disposed of according to law

an unsettled estate

(2)

: not paid or discharged

unsettled debts

unsettledness

ˌən-ˈse-tᵊl(d)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of unsettled

• volatile
• unpredictable
• unstable
• changeful

Examples of unsettled in a Sentence

We have some unsettled business to attend to.

we've been having a lot of unsettled weather lately

Recent Examples on the Web

The hanging plants and sculptural installations transformed the museum into something unsettled and alive. —Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026

The National Weather Service's San Francisco office said in its daily forecast discussion that conditions will stay unsettled into the weekend, with another round of rain and wind likely, and the coldest nights expected late Thursday into Friday morning. —Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026

Meanwhile, on the business side of the operation, the Valkyries are operating as if the season — set to open May 8 in Seattle — will proceed, even as rules and dates for an expansion draft, free agency and the college draft remain unsettled. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026

By contrast, Hsu, director of consumer surveys at the University of Michigan, believes that the revival today is a negative reaction to the volatility of high prices and unsettled politics. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsettled

• resettled
• metalled
• nettled
• settled

Kids Definition

unsettled

adjective

un·​set·​tled ˌən-ˈset-ᵊld 

ˈən-

1

: not settled : not fixed (as in position or nature)

unsettled weather

2

: not calm : disturbed

unsettled waters

3

: not decided in mind : undetermined

unsettled about what to do

4

: not paid

an unsettled account

5

: not lived in by settlers

an unsettled region