INSTABILITY Synonyms: 21 Similar and Opposite Words

instability

noun

ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē

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

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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 OpenAI's for-profit arm is also a public benefit corporation controlled by a nonprofit foundation whose directors must balance shareholder returns against a broader mission—a structure whose instability was laid bare when OpenAI's board fired and briefly ousted Sam Altman in 2023. —

Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 2 June 2026 Gold is widely accepted as a safe-haven asset Gold has long been viewed as a safe-haven investment because investors often turn to it during periods of economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability and inflation concerns. —

Sharon Wu, USA Today, 2 June 2026 The airline sees such routes as a way to capture more premium-fare traffic while insulating its flagship services from foreign regulatory changes, airport curfews, landing-slot constraints, and regional geopolitical instability. —

David Szondy june 02, New Atlas, 2 June 2026 By contrast, modern leaders must navigate technological acceleration, geopolitical instability, shifting workforce expectations and heightened public scrutiny - all at the same time. —

David Morel, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for instability

Recent Examples of Synonyms for instability

Noun

Unlike dizziness — which causes lightheadedness or unsteadiness — vertigo feels more like spinning.

— Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 27 May 2026
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