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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Sacramento County Department of Transportation workers began work this week to remove a nearly 40-year-old fall risk along Sunrise Boulevard in Fair Oaks — a sound wall that officials said had become dangerously unstable.
—
Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
To Booth, the strike is less about power than the body’s ability to trust an inherently unstable position.
—Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Making matters worse, heat waves can create conditions favorable for lightning because of the hot, unstable atmosphere.
—Mukesh Kumar, The Conversation, 17 June 2026
On June 4, the National Emergency Commission declared the alert for the entire country with unstable weather expected to continue for the next couple of weeks.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
To Booth, the strike is less about power than the body’s ability to trust an inherently unstable position.
—Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Making matters worse, heat waves can create conditions favorable for lightning because of the hot, unstable atmosphere.
—Mukesh Kumar, The Conversation, 17 June 2026
On June 4, the National Emergency Commission declared the alert for the entire country with unstable weather expected to continue for the next couple of weeks.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
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McConnell has always appeared to have a somewhat unsteady gate — a childhood bout of polio left him with a partially paralyzed leg.—
Eric McDaniel,
NPR,
14 June 2026
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Swalwell's absence on the campaign trail allowed Becerra to gain more traction as a seemingly steady Democratic option in a very unsteady race.—
Kyler Alvord,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Both oil prices and global equities have been volatile on news of negotiations.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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Guarantees and warranties Warranties provide vital financial peace of mind when dealing with volatile seasonal pests summer heat brings out.—
Nick Perry,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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What begins as a race to the Moon becomes a mirror of our current, precarious era, just as a new global space race ignites.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
17 June 2026
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The defensive play helped buoy an otherwise precarious start by pitcher Eric Lauer.—
Liana Handler
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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The rapid rise and fall underscored silver's reputation as one of the market's most unpredictable assets.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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The restaurant intended to add automatic 18 percent tips to every bill, since international tipping culture is often unpredictable.—
Rachel Siegel,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Stowers getting regular first base work Stowers is beginning to produce after his season got off to an uneven start following to a pair of hamstring injuries in spring training.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
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The president says market gains helped guide his push to reach a deal with Iran, even as critics warn that stocks are an uneven measure of national interest.—
Cat Zakrzewski,
Washington Post,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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The river originates at cold-water springs high up in the Ouachita Mountains, cutting a spectacular course along forested shorelines and past rocky outcroppings.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
17 June 2026
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In this case, looking at the ratio of phosphorus to nitrogen in present-day Earth’s rocky bulk could shed some light on where Earth’s phosphorus came from.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Space.com,
17 June 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 20 Jun. 2026.
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