unsettled 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-ˈse-tᵊld How to pronounce unsettled (audio)
Definition of unsettlednext
1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly we've been having a lot of unsettled weather lately

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2
as in unpaid
not yet paid I keep unsettled bills next to the checkbook

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3
as in pending
not yet settled or decided we can't move on as long as this important question remains unsettled

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4
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something I'm still unsettled about whether I should take that job

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unsettled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of unsettle
as in disturbed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers

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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 unsettled
Adjective
There were fires to put out; an unbalanced squad, unsettled players, grumpy fans, some truly dispiriting defeats. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 30 July 2026 The employer built a wall of automation to keep applicants at a distance, and is now unsettled that applicants built a machine to climb it. — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Verb
But what unsettled him was not what was missing from Grokipedia but what was slightly off. — Carson Griffith, New Yorker, 30 July 2026 Given how unsettled the AI capital-spending cycle, macro policy, and geopolitical risk all are simultaneously, genuine diversification away from a narrow, concentrated public market has real value—and arguably more than usual. — Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsettled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettled
  1. volatile
  2. unpaid
  3. pending
  4. unsure
  5. disturbed
  6. unpredictable
  7. outstanding
  8. unresolved
Adjective
  • Inflation remains volatile in many countries, reflecting varied conditions in markets around the world.
    — John M. Bremen, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Beyond the oil and gas industry, major banks including JPMorgan are making record profits during the ongoing war thanks to heavy trading volumes as investors rush to dump volatile assets or buy the dip.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 30 July 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • Last summer, flight attendants at Air Canada, the country’s largest carrier, stranded more than 100,000 travelers during peak travel season with a strike partly over the same issue of unpaid groundwork.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • West Suburban and Weiss closed owing the state more than $104 million in advance payments as well as unpaid hospital assessment taxes and penalties.
    — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpaid
Adjective
  • Authorities have not publicly identified a cause or manner of death, and the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's autopsy and toxicology results remain pending.
    — Stepheny Price , Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026
  • Those charges remain pending, but the brothers were allowed to leave the country in February 2025 and headed to Florida.
    — StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 27 July 2026
Definition of pending
Adjective
  • So the audience is all the time in and out, unsure what is performance.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Lawrence’s gravity makes rushing from the outside all the more devastating, doubly so if linemen are unsure who is coming or dropping.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsure
Verb
  • The size and ferocity of the La Mierla fire disturbed Aragüés, yet the situation was about to get worse.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Turner said the treatment of the teenagers in Seattle disturbed her even more.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbed
Adjective
  • The Open Worldwide Application Security Project describes a use-after-free as when a program accesses heap memory after it’s been freed, leading to unpredictable behavior or exploits.
    — Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Even while navigating a challenging economic landscape—marked by fluctuating input costs, unpredictable weather and shifting market dynamics—growers are choosing to formalize and voluntarily provide data on their sustainability practices.
    — SJ Studio, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • Hawley criticized Fauci for accepting cash prizes from nonprofits that award money to people for outstanding achievements in given fields and for his embrace of celebrity at the height of the pandemic.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026
  • Each being an outstanding and influential wine producing family, their collective power as a group is unparalleled.
    — Yuri Shima, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • This is a long-term problem the agency is working on, but remains unresolved.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The second option is the General Assembly’s annual fall veto session, a six-day stretch where lawmakers can consider vetoes, unresolved legislation and, at times, new bills.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of unresolved

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unsettled
unsettledness
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Cite this Entry

“Unsettled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettled. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unsettled

Nglish: Translation of unsettled for Spanish Speakers

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