1
as in unsteady
not being in or able to maintain a state of balance
the minute we put the books down on the unstable desk, the whole stack went crashing to the floor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
financial investors don't like an unstable economy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in changing
not staying constant
unstable temperatures are not ideal storage conditions for wine
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unstable
Geopolitically, the world seems to be getting more unstable.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel and face an unstable future.
—Brian Lee, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Researchers found that Latino students faced myriad challenges, including immigration issues, English proficiency and unstable housing that is linked to their parents’ employment status.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
In these uncertain and unstable times, art remains a powerful unifier and ‘The Hammer’ offers both insight and entertainment.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unstable
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel and face an unstable future.
—Brian Lee, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Researchers found that Latino students faced myriad challenges, including immigration issues, English proficiency and unstable housing that is linked to their parents’ employment status.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
In these uncertain and unstable times, art remains a powerful unifier and ‘The Hammer’ offers both insight and entertainment.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
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Bass, who was out of the country when the fire broke out, was unsteady in her early public appearances and, since then, has faced sharp criticism over the pace of the rebuilding.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
One outcome — perhaps, a five-point plan While Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and others are actively pursuing diplomacy, Iran and Israel are not interested, and the United States appears baffled and unsteady.—
Daniel Kurtzer,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Deterring Pests Another companion planting strategy is to interplant crops with plants that produce volatile chemicals such as strong odors that confuse pests.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
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As a result, expect the stock market to remain volatile next week as updates on the Iran war continue to roll through.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In some studies, gloves not changed between tasks had higher bacterial counts and could transfer germs just as easily as ungloved hands, underscoring the need for frequent changing and proper hand hygiene.—
Evan Moore
December 19,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
In 1994 a mass exodus sent more than 35,000 Cubans off the island in precarious vessels.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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The ceasefire already looks precarious, and dueling reports from Iran state media and the White House disagreed Wednesday on whether Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz again.—
Stan Choe,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Special election turnout is unpredictable, but Harris' overperformance in Georgia tonight fits into broader narratives about Democrats' chances in the midterms, especially if the war in Iran continues on and gas prices for Americans continue to rise.—
Halle Troadec,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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That matters because real homes are messy and unpredictable.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As an over-the-counter retinoid, retinol helps accelerate skin cell turnover, which can visibly improve uneven texture, fine lines, and discoloration over time.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
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But the improvements were short-lived as rates rose significantly in March, driven by a series of uneven economic reports and a spike in geopolitical tensions and overseas conflicts.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Transporting large components across the rocky terrain risked damaging them, so they were disassembled into modules for delivery to the site.—
Aman Kumar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 Apr. 2026
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The trimming of the sails comes amid a particularly rocky run for Bad Robot, with several ambitious projects featuring high-wattage talent getting a hard pass or stuck in development hell.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This is a recurring injury for Smith, who has missed five of the last nine games due to varying levels of discomfort in his calf.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
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Even within a single day, temporary weight shifts are common and are often due to varying levels of fluid retention.—
Lauren O'Connor,
Health,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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