1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective unstable differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unstable are capricious, fickle, inconstant, and mercurial. While all these words mean "lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion)," unstable implies an incapacity for remaining in a fixed position or steady course and applies especially to a lack of emotional balance.

too unstable to hold a job

When can capricious be used instead of unstable?

The synonyms capricious and unstable are sometimes interchangeable, but capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability.

an utterly capricious critic

When would fickle be a good substitute for unstable?

The words fickle and unstable can be used in similar contexts, but fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness.

performers discover how fickle fans can be

When is inconstant a more appropriate choice than unstable?

The words inconstant and unstable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change.

an inconstant friend

When could mercurial be used to replace unstable?

Although the words mercurial and unstable have much in common, mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood.

made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament

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 unstable Beyond the cost of living, factors like unstable infrastructure, security risks and limited access to healthcare or amenities should be accounted for to ensure fair, motivating compensation and support talent retention in less favorable geographies. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 But instead of excitement, many are feeling growing anxiety about a job market that feels both unstable and confusing. Alex Backus, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 The order was in response to an emergency filing from lawyers who said their Vietnamese client was given little notice before being put on a plane to the African country, one of the world's poorest and most politically unstable. Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 21 May 2025 Stage 1: In this stage, inflammation, as well as loose or unstable joints, is present. Isabel Casimiro, Verywell Health, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
  • The camera swirls around the scene, unsteady and swift.
    Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 16 May 2025
  • It’s maintained an idiosyncratic spirit all along, combining references from across rock history—a Bob Dylan harmonica line here, a Cars synth line there—with lyrics that unspool in unsteady, careening cadences.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • The fire had to feel alive, volatile, and credible—a force the actors had to confront in real time.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 4 June 2025
  • Rising prices, fomenting trade wars, and uncertainty about when tariffs will go into effect has led to a volatile economic climate.
    Boone Ashworth, Wired News, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • The ship’s precarious position also makes the salvage operation unusually complex.
    Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
  • As yields rise, borrowers—both corporate and individual—find themselves in a precarious position, with ripple effects that could dampen investment and consumer spending.
    Dan Irvine, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • Entrepreneurs who want to survive must meet our current reality by staying as flexible as the market is unpredictable.
    Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • Love can get a little wild and unpredictable this month.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • The American game was largely insular, coaching education uneven, and infrastructure limited.
    Lee Igel, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • Read More: The Healthiest Way to Clean Your House Check the base of the unit, too: Dirt can settle underneath, making the entire thing uneven, leading to performance issues and major repairs down the road, Drew says.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • But Evercore's Julian Emanuel seemed less certain, pointing to historical records suggesting that investors may have to contend with some rocky times ahead .
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 4 June 2025
  • The Imagineers worked with a motocross company after taking a trip to Arizona to experience driving in a real off-road vehicle on rocky terrain, the park said.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Vietnam is also dealing with a unbalanced gender ratio, partly because of a long-standing preferences for sons.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 June 2025
  • Most important, the legislation is massively expensive and will add further to the debt/deficit at a time when both are already extremely unbalanced.
    Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 21 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unstable

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!