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
Anthropic could list as soon as late September, though the voting structure remains unsettled and could change. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 The first feels rooted in youth, summer, romance and memory; after the switch, the music becomes more reflective, solitary and unsettled. — Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
In reality, the situation in Indiana is completely unsettled, and White was reminded of that on Tuesday night when some fans booed her during pregame introductions ahead of the Fever's home contest against the New York Liberty. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 The barrage has caused fuel shortages in Russia, eaten into Russian refining capacity, and unsettled the Russian public. — ABC News, 10 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
  • The man had been shot during a volatile time in the city, and the disposal of his body appears to have been planned.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Sandisk showcased its BiCS8 and BiCS10 NAND technologies and highlighted HBF's potential to provide high-capacity, high-performance non-volatile storage, supplementing or replacing HBM.
    — Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • Scammers have used the threat of ‘unpaid tolls’ to lure travelers to click on unsafe links sent by text and email and share their banking information.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Hospital executives have begun reporting more unpaid medical bills, and experts warn health plans will raise premiums further as they're left with enrollees who are, on average, sicker and more expensive to cover.
    — Christine Mai-Duc, NPR, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpaid
Adjective
  • Court records indicate the bankruptcy proceedings remain pending.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Roughly 120 copyright suits against AI developers remain pending, and several could produce a rule that contradicts this one.
    — TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of pending
Adjective
  • Victims’ families and experts are unsure the higher amounts will be enough to get tipsters to come forward, citing people's fears and distrust of the federal government.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Victims’ families and experts are unsure the higher amounts will be enough to get tipsters to come forward, citing people’s fears and distrust of the federal government.
    — Sarah Raza, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsure
Verb
  • Peonies don’t like to be disturbed and may not bloom the next year, but division is sometimes necessary.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The study hypothesized that the sickle was added before the body fully decomposed since no joints were detached or displaced, as archaeologists would expect if a grave were to be disturbed after the body became a skeleton.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbed
Adjective
  • Klayton Adams wants his offense to be creative and complex, physical and unpredictable, to break rules but still feel realistic.
    — Jon Machota, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Later, the Moon opposes unpredictable Uranus, shifting schedules, conversations, or logistics.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • His work there earned him a nomination for his first Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding guest actor in a drama series.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Logan Henderson, an outstanding rookie pitcher the Brewers chose to keep rather than including in a trade last month, outdueled Skubal in Sunday’s series finale at Los Angeles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • Thirty years later, still unfinished Nearly 30 years on, the case remains unresolved in the fullest sense.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • However, sources told royal insider Rob Shuter that the real reason behind Harry and Meghan’s move to the UK is because of Harry’s unresolved US immigration controversy.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of unresolved

Browse Nearby Words

unsettle
unsettled
unsettledness
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Cite this Entry

“Unsettled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettled. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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