1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a year of unsteady economic growth
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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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4
as in uneven
not staying constant
unsteady business conditions that rattled investors
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsteady
But in the moment this flawed, unsteady Heat team played its heart out.
—
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Szépvölgyi mocked the prime minister, who is 62, for seeming unsteady when boos erupted at one of his recent rallies.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Bass, who was out of the country when the fire broke out, was unsteady in her early public appearances and, since then, has faced sharp criticism over the pace of the rebuilding.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
One outcome — perhaps, a five-point plan While Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and others are actively pursuing diplomacy, Iran and Israel are not interested, and the United States appears baffled and unsteady.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Szépvölgyi mocked the prime minister, who is 62, for seeming unsteady when boos erupted at one of his recent rallies.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Bass, who was out of the country when the fire broke out, was unsteady in her early public appearances and, since then, has faced sharp criticism over the pace of the rebuilding.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
One outcome — perhaps, a five-point plan While Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and others are actively pursuing diplomacy, Iran and Israel are not interested, and the United States appears baffled and unsteady.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
-
There were sporadic injuries reported as well as some arrests and property damage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
-
Flowers nearly cover the plant in spring, followed by sporadic blooms throughout the season.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Everything is imperfect and volatile.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
Gas and oil prices have been rising but volatile since the conflict began.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Drills intended to ensure security and military preparedness Russian President Vladimir Putin said the drills were intended to ensure national security and military preparedness in what Moscow describes as an increasingly unstable international environment.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
-
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the incident, but early reports suggest the hovercraft may have become unstable after moving onto thin ice near the shoreline.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
These Italian suede sneakers feature a durable gum sole that’s perfect for a long day of walking without tripping over cobblestones or uneven pavement.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
Elsewhere, shopping was uneven.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Modern economies, critics argued, cannot run on intermittent power.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Neither intermittent fasting nor small, frequent meals directly boosts your metabolism.—
Caitlin Beale,
Health,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
That's difficult because oncology is among the most expensive and unpredictable areas of healthcare, with high drug costs and the fragmented care that attracted the company's attention in the first place.—
Ellen Sheng,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
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Produced by Kunal Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani through their Drongo Films banner, Vibe centers on two inseparable friends whose ordinary, unassuming lives spiral into an unpredictable, high-energy adventure that pushes their survival instincts and friendship to the limit.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The concentrated schedule created a sense of occasion and urgency that is diluted when games are spread across Thursdays, occasional Wednesdays, Friday holidays, Saturday nights, Sunday mornings and multiple streaming-exclusive windows.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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This is a play that takes young people and their problems seriously, while incorporating occasional humor into the script and direction.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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