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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsteady
Major apparel companies from American Eagle to Levi Strauss are in a race to corner that market, leaning on A-list celebrities like Sydney Sweeney and Beyonce to win over shoppers and drive sales in an unsteady economy.
—
Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
Such conspicuously uneven character development puts the entire show on unsteady terrain.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Dec. 2025
The model is built on unsteady foundations, with only those banking huge profits right off the bat able to negate the hurdles in their way.
—Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
The improved outlook suggests Brown’s turnaround plan for the company remains on track in the face of global tariffs and unsteady demand.
—Bloomberg, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
Such conspicuously uneven character development puts the entire show on unsteady terrain.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Dec. 2025
The model is built on unsteady foundations, with only those banking huge profits right off the bat able to negate the hurdles in their way.
—Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
The improved outlook suggests Brown’s turnaround plan for the company remains on track in the face of global tariffs and unsteady demand.
—Bloomberg, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
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Several sporadic tariff announcements followed over the year.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
20 Jan. 2026
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Protests and sporadic violence following controversial law enforcement incidents are not, by themselves, evidence of a professionalized or centrally directed terror organization, Brzozowski said.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Key's Jerry is a disruption through and through, knocking everything just a little off-kilter with each volatile appearance.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
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Paul Weller is still a godlike figure, but the Jam themselves had a really distinct chemistry and sounded very volatile onstage and are among the great punk groups.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This technique, sometimes called ski cutting, involves traversing across a slope to try and get unstable snow to slide down.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
13 Jan. 2026
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Antioxidants are compounds found in certain foods that help protect your cells from damage and disease caused by the build-up of unstable molecules called free radicals.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Lost Lambs is a confident if uneven start for a morbidly funny writer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
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The low-pile rug has short fibers that prevent uneven crushing from heavy foot traffic and give it more durability over time.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Over the past decade, intermittent mass protests have drawn participants from virtually every socioeconomic class, including ethnic minorities on the periphery of the country, labor movements, women, and bazaaris.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
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Atkins, keto, South Beach, the Zone, low carb, no carb, ultra-low fat, liquid only, Jillian Michaels, Jane Fonda, Suzanne Somers, full-body HIIT workouts, gym memberships, a YMCA weight coach, DietBet, StepBet, a Mediterranean diet, a vegetarian diet, the raw food diet, intermittent fasting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The diversification stabilized operations while sustaining agricultural production amid increasingly unpredictable global markets.—
Maggie McGrath,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the main drivers of elevated and unpredictable egg prices has been the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Jan. 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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Key Takeaways Your blood pressure is unlikely to be affected by an occasional prime rib dinner.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
15 Jan. 2026
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The austerity gives her plenty of room to writhe, mug, and moan between occasional shots of an inflatable Martian and a tropical-looking Tiffany lamp.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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