1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a year of unsteady economic growth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unstable
not being in or able to maintain a state of balance
cautiously climbed up the unsteady ladder
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in uneven
not staying constant
unsteady business conditions that rattled investors
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsteady
The archive of material Habak shot over years offers an intimate and visceral experience of life on the ground – the unsteady ground shaken by constant aerial assaults.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
He's seen shirtless as the confrontation escalates, with both men appearing unsteady on their feet during the exchange.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
As a result, many Americans may lose benefits not because of an unwillingness to work, but because of complex rules and red tape, which are difficult to manage while juggling unsteady jobs, caregiving obligations or health issues.
—Jenn Finders, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
Lusti and Morrison made their first attempt in 2023 alongside big-mountain skier Tanner McNutt, but avalanches and unsteady snowpack turned the trio back from the summit.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
He's seen shirtless as the confrontation escalates, with both men appearing unsteady on their feet during the exchange.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
As a result, many Americans may lose benefits not because of an unwillingness to work, but because of complex rules and red tape, which are difficult to manage while juggling unsteady jobs, caregiving obligations or health issues.
—Jenn Finders, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
Lusti and Morrison made their first attempt in 2023 alongside big-mountain skier Tanner McNutt, but avalanches and unsteady snowpack turned the trio back from the summit.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
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Since then there have been sporadic signs of life regarding the venue, mostly to do with liquor licensing and permit requests, such as last October when a company called Dome Center LLC filed an application for a conditional-use permit.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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Over the last week, government responses had been sporadic, but seemed to signal that the return was a matter of when — not if.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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It's been an eventful first month on the job for Pat Lyons, the new athletic director at the University of Rhode Island, who takes the reins in Kingston during a volatile time in college sports, with the billions of dollars available in media rights turning the NCAA into a conduit for big business.—
Kathleen Hill,
The Providence Journal,
11 Apr. 2026
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Flying is the company’s second Nova-C lander named Athena featuring NASA’s PRIME-1 drill, to land a drill and mass spectrometer near the south pole of the moon in order to demonstrate the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and measure the volatile content of subsurface samples.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Thompson said the seven-story parking garage is unstable, and the search for the two missing workers will take time.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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In contrast, this novel method depends on the path a quantum system takes rather than on unstable external factors.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As an over-the-counter retinoid, retinol helps accelerate skin cell turnover, which can visibly improve uneven texture, fine lines, and discoloration over time.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
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But the improvements were short-lived as rates rose significantly in March, driven by a series of uneven economic reports and a spike in geopolitical tensions and overseas conflicts.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Instead, precipitation arriving as rain – along with intermittent midwinter melting events – increased the runoff.—
Imtiaz Rangwala,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
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The matching restrictions do limit the ability of companies to claim to use carbon-free electricity 24/7 by using intermittent wind and solar power.—
Arik Levinson,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Special election turnout is unpredictable, but Harris' overperformance in Georgia tonight fits into broader narratives about Democrats' chances in the midterms, especially if the war in Iran continues on and gas prices for Americans continue to rise.—
Halle Troadec,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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That matters because real homes are messy and unpredictable.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 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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Building on the bones of Detroit techno and electro, his best records are hallucinogenic portals into worlds made out of 8-bit textures, rusty bleeps, and the occasional forlorn piano or sandpapery vocal sample.—
Andrew Ryce,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
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Ryobi is great for occasional-use, light-duty stuff that needs to work but doesn’t have to withstand eight-hour daily punishment on a job site.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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