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
Fixed a bug where Dormant Power might not appear upon defeating an enemy under unstable network conditions.
—
Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Should Iran become more unstable, the resulting turmoil could be felt across the region.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Other challenges can include the loss of institutional knowledge when experienced workers leave and an unstable workforce that undermines client confidence.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025
The situation at home was unstable.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Should Iran become more unstable, the resulting turmoil could be felt across the region.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Other challenges can include the loss of institutional knowledge when experienced workers leave and an unstable workforce that undermines client confidence.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025
The situation at home was unstable.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
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Bator cites both external factors (such as geopolitical conflicts or the unsteady global economy) and internal ones (such as burnout and uncertainty).—
Mark C. Perna,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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On the game’s fourth play, the Michigan transfer got up after a 3-yard rush on a keeper and wobbled off the field on unsteady legs.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Yet last week’s warning from Jet2, a business respected for its cost control and excellent customer service, has served as a reminder that, for all the impressive growth of recent years, this remains a volatile and sometimes unpredictable sector.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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While any single month can be volatile and revisions can further change our understanding, hiring ground to a halt in May and June in the uncertain aftermath of the Liberation Day tariff announcements.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Target Fulfillment Strategy Focuses on Strengthening In-Store Experience In a world that has gone largely online, Target’s move is an effort to redefine the often precarious balance that all retailers must seek between digital and in-store customer experience.—
Dan Gingiss,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Cybercriminals are capitalizing on America's precarious labor market, with jobseekers being taken advantage of in record numbers in 2025.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Charleston’s unpredictable climate means summer can stretch well into October, then randomly resurface in January.—
Jenn Rice,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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With recent polls showing Mamdani leading his rivals by double digits, the intersection of Hochul’s pragmatism, Mamdani’s outreach, and the powerful symbolism of their evolving relationship promises a uniquely unpredictable contest for New York’s future.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Conventional cooling systems often rely on cold plates that offer indirect contact with battery cells, which can result in uneven temperature distribution.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
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Polishing and setting diamonds on uneven surfaces is a rare skill and Chopard does it all in-house.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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His family lives in a two-story gray home in Washington City, a community nestled among Utah’s soaring red, rocky cliffs.—
David DeMille,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Our fish farm worked beautifully right up until the NewCoral molted, growing fins and fangs and one rocky fin, terrorizing the coastline and hunting the NewFish almost to NewExtinction.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That’s going to wear thin quickly because the friendship becomes unbalanced and remains so.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
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Have unbalanced and excessive cortisol?—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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