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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsteady
The senator seemed unsteady, but got up and kept walking with the help of his detail.
—
Lauren Peller, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2025
The ancient Greeks often compared the unsteady beat of waves against the shore to laughter.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
House of Guinness tends to be wise about the ways both business and family are built over an unsteady and ever-changing series of negotiations for power and status.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
What the map did not show was that few hikers attempt this route due to its exposure and the extra time, water, and stamina required of a lengthy and strenuous Class II scramble up and down a trio of ever-taller unnamed 13,000-foot mountains of loose talus and unsteady granite blocks.
—Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Lauren Peller, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2025
The ancient Greeks often compared the unsteady beat of waves against the shore to laughter.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
House of Guinness tends to be wise about the ways both business and family are built over an unsteady and ever-changing series of negotiations for power and status.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
What the map did not show was that few hikers attempt this route due to its exposure and the extra time, water, and stamina required of a lengthy and strenuous Class II scramble up and down a trio of ever-taller unnamed 13,000-foot mountains of loose talus and unsteady granite blocks.
—Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
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Because, well, our relationship was always so sporadic.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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Despite sporadic staff shortages at air traffic control facilities across the country since the shutdown began, flight operations have been largely normal.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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First, the electrodes and electrolytes are adjusted to handle high temperatures, specifically replacing the volatile liquid electrolyte used in traditional Li batteries.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
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Taking the long view Many finance leaders remain cautious, viewing bitcoin as too volatile—especially recently—compared to traditional assets.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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On the big screen, Harford cared for Sandra Dee’s Rosalie Stocker in The Wild and the Innocent (1959) and portrayed the opportunistic older sister of Natalie Wood’s unstable title character in Inside Daisy Clover (1965), the melodrama directed by Robert Mulligan.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Nov. 2025
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Despite the improvements, her health has still been unstable over the years, partially due to her diagnosis of pulmonary vein stenosis, a rare disease that narrows the veins connecting the heart and the lungs, her father told the outlet.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Future work will focus on integrating snow-deposition modeling with PV yield simulations to more accurately predict energy losses and on expanding analyses to more complex, uneven alpine terrain.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Trojans' uneven season hasn't exactly helped slow rumors either.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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These include electric vehicles with extended driving ranges, large-scale renewable energy storage systems that can balance intermittent solar and wind power, and lightweight, flexible power sources for portable and wearable electronics.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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Countries also need to work on better connecting intermittent renewables — those which work only when the sun shines or the wind blows — with batteries that can store their energy.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This combination allows for precise navigation in tight or unpredictable environments.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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Tinker was brilliant, unpredictable, and slightly unhinged.—
Henry Selick,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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So Fernandez ended up scoring two goals and incessantly bothering the Charlotte FC players with his ball skills and occasional extracurricular activity.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
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As a durable and washable rug brand, Ruggable is one of our favorite destinations for outdoor rugs, kids rugs, and even the occasional doormat or entryway piece.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Jan. 2023
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Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.—
Jordan Kisner Jack Davison,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
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