1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 unsettled
Adjective
The unsettled pattern is expected to continue into next week, with 60–80% rain and storm chances Monday through Wednesday. — Keily Alfonzo, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026 What unsettled investors was the gap between the Fed's economic forecasts and Warsh's remarks. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
Wolverines have a wide physical advantage, but makeup of the offensive line is unsettled and QB Bryce Underwood hasn't run Jason Beck's offense in a game. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 Lin said recent restrictions affecting mainland investors’ access to offshore brokerages in Hong Kong had particularly unsettled some clients. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 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
  • For some investors, the volatile situation is leading to a more intent focus on core balance sheet metrics led by free cash flow, which measures the cash left over after expenses, interest, taxes and long-term investments.
    — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Goods would become more expensive and supply chains more volatile and prone to disruption.
    — Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • The advertisement, approved by Hamilton, follows a report from the New York Times that detailed Marshall’s former OB-GYN practice sued over 700 patients for unpaid medical bills, with 81 of the lawsuits resulting in arrests.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2026
  • She’s accused by a creative agency alleging $1 million in unpaid fees.
    — Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of unpaid
Adjective
  • Public records requests the Trib filed with DCF for this article remain pending.
    — Sharmila Venkatasubban, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Public records requests the Trib filed with DCF for this story remain pending.
    — Sharmila Venkatasubban, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of pending
Adjective
  • Many of Martin’s clients come in feeling anxious about making the leap, unsure whether the look will suit them.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The operator was unsure how to properly wash, rinse and sanitize dishes.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of unsure
Verb
  • People, wildlife and domestic animals get valley fever when the soil in these burrows is disturbed, by a dog digging, a kick of the boot, a shovel, construction equipment, wind or wildfire.
    — Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Clean Regularly Spiders don’t like to be disturbed, so an unused area of your porch is likely to be attractive real estate.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of disturbed
Adjective
  • Replaying that in the oceans would be dangerous and unpredictable.
    — Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
  • As the Satanic Slasher gruesomely hacks his way across the country with the cop in pursuit, his backstory and intentions are parceled out to the viewer piece by piece, until the movie arrives at a completely unpredictable conclusion.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • By the middle of 2025, there were at least $188 trillion worth of bonds outstanding, according to the Bank for International Settlements.
    — Robin Wigglesworth, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Buybacks reduce the number of shares outstanding, increasing the ownership stake of remaining shareholders and, all else equal, boosting earnings per share.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • The role must influence what the organization builds, sells and continues to support, with unresolved tradeoffs made visible.
    — Mohammed Cherifi, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Seemingly intentionally, the film leaves some details unresolved — where’s Jo’s absentee father, and exactly what made Manang so bitterly angry?
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of unresolved

Browse Nearby Words

unsettle
unsettled
unsettledness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsettled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettled. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of slew

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All