as in instability
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position
blamed the poor quality of the video on the tripod's unsteadiness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a year of unsteady economic growth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
in the days of sailing ships, mariners were constantly at the mercy of unsteady winds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unstable
not being in or able to maintain a state of balance
cautiously climbed up the unsteady ladder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in uneven
not staying constant
unsteady business conditions that rattled investors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsteadiness
Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Her hands became too unsteady after 2000 to continue drawing.
—Hilarie M. Sheets, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Something long and meandering like this: For the next four years, the United States will be an unpredictable, unsteady global superpower run by a fascist oligarchy, in which the people’s representatives cater to a madman’s whim.
—Eli Grober, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
An unsteady job market has contributed to rising scrutiny around large corporations, also a driving theme of the season.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteadiness
Adjective
Slow and unsteady Karma: The Dark World is a slow game, both in its exposition and its occasionally frustrating slow walking speed.
—Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Her hands became too unsteady after 2000 to continue drawing.
—Hilarie M. Sheets, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Something long and meandering like this: For the next four years, the United States will be an unpredictable, unsteady global superpower run by a fascist oligarchy, in which the people’s representatives cater to a madman’s whim.
—Eli Grober, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
An unsteady job market has contributed to rising scrutiny around large corporations, also a driving theme of the season.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteadiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteadiness
Noun
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In later stages there may be instability of the joints of the foot and deformities.—
Isabel Casimiro,
Verywell Health,
22 May 2025
-
Google started looking into nuclear energy after realizing renewables were potentially causing instability on the grid, said Caroline Golin, Google’s global head of energy market development.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Unfortunately, those days are more sporadic and like Hernandez, resembles little to the player who dragged Milan over the line three years ago to steal an unlikely league title.—
Emmet Gates,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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Those moments have grown more sporadic in recent months, with Watkins no longer looked to as Villa’s key source of goals.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
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Unlike volatile digital assets like bitcoin, the value of stablecoins is tied to a real-world asset like fiat currencies or commodities like gold.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Stage 1: In this stage, inflammation, as well as loose or unstable joints, is present.—
Isabel Casimiro,
Verywell Health,
22 May 2025
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Unfortunately, modeling variations on this orbit through time indicated that 98 percent of them were unstable within 50 million years.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
22 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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Residents lack running water, use 5-gallon buckets as toilets and must contend with intermittent electricity and deteriorating homes that expose them to the region’s fierce weather.—
Emily Schwing,
ProPublica,
29 May 2025
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The issues appeared to be largely resolved by around 10 a.m., but some users experienced intermittent issues with the platform until about 11 a.m.—
Erin Doherty,
CNBC,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s aggressive and unpredictable policies — including massive import taxes — have clouded the outlook for the economy as well as the job market and raised fears that the American economy is headed toward recession.—
Matt Ott,
Chicago Tribune,
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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Others that have a small selling history and only a handful of items for sale at a time tend to be occasional sellers and wardrobe clearers.—
Benjamin Voyer,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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The audience is present in a politely distant but receptive way with shots from the back of their heads and an occasional darkened full-theater shot.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsteadiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteadiness. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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