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
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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
Pecans Pecans are loaded with polyphenolic compounds, especially ellagic acid and flavonoids, which help neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules that lead to cell damage.
—
Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2025
Petrol price increases and the naira currency’s unstable exchange rate to the dollar had driven inflation beyond 30% last year, aggravating a cost of living crisis.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
You might be born into a politically unstable country through no fault of your own or unable to afford to move out of an area with poor air quality.
—Lindsey Leake, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Obviously, our times are very unstable and it’s all polarized and people have a lot of anxiety, more than ever probably.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2025
Petrol price increases and the naira currency’s unstable exchange rate to the dollar had driven inflation beyond 30% last year, aggravating a cost of living crisis.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
You might be born into a politically unstable country through no fault of your own or unable to afford to move out of an area with poor air quality.
—Lindsey Leake, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Obviously, our times are very unstable and it’s all polarized and people have a lot of anxiety, more than ever probably.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
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Where Aytaç was large but poised, Abdi was insubstantial, scrawny, and unsteady on his feet.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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If something feels unsteady or on shaky ground, it will be revealed — not to break you, but to rebuild something stronger.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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First, the electrodes and electrolytes are adjusted to handle high temperatures, specifically replacing the volatile liquid electrolyte used in traditional Li batteries.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
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Taking the long view Many finance leaders remain cautious, viewing bitcoin as too volatile—especially recently—compared to traditional assets.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But Poverty Never Left Me Almost every aspect of our life was precarious then.—
Stephanie Land,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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China is in a far more precarious state, mostly due to preexisting problems, but the new trade agreement is unlikely to move the dial much for either of the world’s two largest economies.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With unpredictable twists and emotions running high, this Halloween is especially chaotic, and Mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces — can't imagine what's in store.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Predicting something that has becoming increasingly unpredictable is an impossible task, but here’s a look at how the shutdown could ripple through critical avenues of everyday life.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The early days of the season have been decidedly uneven.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Special features include their grippy Vibram outsoles, cushiony FloatPro Foam pods, and extra underfoot protection against rocks and uneven terrain.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The 40 minute round-trip rolls up the Red Clay Valley, with unobstructed views of moonlit fields, rocky cuts and creek banks.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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Combined with a rocky job market, that’s led young people to find hope in the stock market.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
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Your height is determined by a combination of genes (traits passed down in families) and environmental factors, such as an unbalanced diet, malnutrition, economic status, and certain conditions.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
1 Nov. 2025
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These high rates compound the risks tied to an unbalanced grid.—
Lora Myers,
Oc Register,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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