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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as in instability
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position
if the tunnel had been properly inspected, the unstableness of the overhead concrete panels would have been discovered in time
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unstable
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
Adjective
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
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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
-
Not only that, but he was being fed an unsteady diet of cockroaches.—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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Other big miners, including archrivals BHP, Anglo American and Glencore, have steered clear of lithium, am important metal in batteries, but one which is also abundantly available puts suffers from extremely volatile pricing.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
The couple had a volatile relationship that often turned violent, according to authorities.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
Noun
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LTOs offer a moment of joy, control, and relevance in a time of rising costs and systemic instability.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
At the same time, France was experiencing extreme instability in its domestic politics.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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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
-
The ship’s precarious position also makes the salvage operation unusually complex.—
Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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John Daly and Tiger Woods share a legendary and unpredictable bond.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
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Smaller airlines are reportedly being hurt worst by unpredictable travel times.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Bread crumbs • Props to the hair, makeup, and costuming departments for differentiating Kiki’s Simone from pre-Michaela Simone, who showed up to the island with a scraggly ponytail, a gray button-down, uneven skin, and scrawled tattoos.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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Read Next Boise & Garden City Boise River Greenbelt biker dies from head injuries after crashing on uneven pathway September 6, 2024 4:00 AM This story was originally published September 24, 2024 at 4:00 AM.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Shot in Galicia, a landscape of rocky coasts and salty-blue air, this loosely biographical third feature from Catalan filmmaker Carla Simón, part of the Cannes competition slate, has a wistful, earthy glow.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
23 May 2025
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Miley Cyrus’s new musical era is off to something of a rocky start.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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His replacement, Hansi Flick, arrived to find an unbalanced squad that lacked a clear identity.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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The destroyer became unbalanced and was punctured in its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the stern section slid off first and became stuck, per the report.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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