as in unsteadiness
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position
the instability of the bridge became tragically apparent when it suddenly collapsed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instability
For Kawasaki’s part, Synflux is prepared to rise to the challenge of the summit’s theme—Building Resilient Futures—even though the goal feels increasingly aspirational amid the groundswell of global instability.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Airlines are also rerouting flights and dealing with instability in the Middle East.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Regions with high flickering often indicate underlying instability, even when their net change over a year appears unremarkable.
—Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
And housing instability remains high as housing costs continue to increase, as well as eviction rates.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for instability
Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Airlines are also rerouting flights and dealing with instability in the Middle East.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Regions with high flickering often indicate underlying instability, even when their net change over a year appears unremarkable.
—Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
And housing instability remains high as housing costs continue to increase, as well as eviction rates.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for instability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instability
Noun
-
Those dates were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later canceled following Dion's 2022 diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that includes rigidity and stiffness of certain areas of the body, causing unsteadiness, slower movements and difficulties walking.—
Shafiq Najib,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Can’t slam anyone for that, and the unsteadiness was real and the moment was more poignant because of it.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The premise brings together urban precariousness, conspiracy and genre mechanics.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
-
But the Damascene realization regarding the precariousness of American manufacturing that followed spurred a flurry of activity in Washington—as well as among nations that balked at an authoritarian superpower effectively having a permanent kill switch over their industrial output.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But for another group of Black women, the same question elicits feelings of insecurity and defensiveness.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
14 May 2026
-
Fils-Aimé was in Italy visiting Pope Leo XIV when the violence erupted, and has been under fire for not doing more to address the rising insecurity, while the GSF itself has yet to fully deploy or engage in operations.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instability. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
