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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unstable
Furthermore, the borates hadn't hindered anything at all, but actually supported some of the steps in the DSM model, such as stabilizing the ribose molecules that can often be unstable and break down, and facilitating the production of phosphates.
—
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 5 Jan. 2026
During an immune response, the body produces reactive oxygen species (unstable molecules).
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 5 Jan. 2026
But some from the country worry Venezuela is more unstable than ever after Maduro's ouster.
—Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
When truth becomes unstable, societies lose their bearings.
—Klaus Schwab, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 5 Jan. 2026
During an immune response, the body produces reactive oxygen species (unstable molecules).
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 5 Jan. 2026
But some from the country worry Venezuela is more unstable than ever after Maduro's ouster.
—Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
When truth becomes unstable, societies lose their bearings.
—Klaus Schwab, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
-
The camera becomes unsteady and points toward the sky and then returns to the street view showing Good’s SUV careening away.—
Rebecca Santana,
Fortune,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The camera becomes unsteady and points toward the sky and then returns to the street view showing Good’s SUV careening away.—
REBECCA SANTANA,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Key's Jerry is a disruption through and through, knocking everything just a little off-kilter with each volatile appearance.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Paul Weller is still a godlike figure, but the Jam themselves had a really distinct chemistry and sounded very volatile onstage and are among the great punk groups.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 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
-
Gorton and Hughes had traded draft picks before, but nothing like this, a sign that the rebuild was entering a new, precarious phase, one where playoff participation is now an expectation and not a luxury.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Costs continue to rise, services continue to be cut, safety seems precarious.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Austin immigration advocates have argued that similar changes in Austin, and a lack of clarification from the police department on its policy, sends a message that contact with officers — even as a victim or witness — carries unpredictable risks for immigrant families.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The occurrence of abdominal pain is often unpredictable and can change over time.—
Pamela Assid Woughter,
Verywell Health,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Future work will focus on integrating snow-deposition modeling with PV yield simulations to more accurately predict energy losses and on expanding analyses to more complex, uneven alpine terrain.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The Trojans' uneven season hasn't exactly helped slow rumors either.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Whether scoffing the fisherman's haul at Ristorante Bar la Vela, margaritas and caper paté at Kaya Kaya overlooking the harbor of Scauri, or simply scrambling onto a rocky perch with a cold beer.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
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Visitors can spend their entire trip switching off between the two, but be sure to take some time to explore the rocky cove beaches called calas that have made Costa Blanca famous.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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 Jan. 2026.
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