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
Now Raising Alarm in the US Meanwhile, business sentiment remains unsteady, with the National Federation of Independent Business' (NFIB) Uncertainty Index rising 4 points to 104 in February—its second-highest reading since the index's inception in 1973.
—
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Mike Conroy, executive director at The Economic Co., said that has become common throughout the Bay Area in which rising costs and a more unsteady business environment have prompted development projects to switch gears.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
Set during a tumultuous summer in Lima in 1992, Reinas chronicles the unsteady reunion between a father and his two daughters.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2025
The mother, while not as severely impaired, is unsteady on her feet and depends on a cane.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Mike Conroy, executive director at The Economic Co., said that has become common throughout the Bay Area in which rising costs and a more unsteady business environment have prompted development projects to switch gears.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
Set during a tumultuous summer in Lima in 1992, Reinas chronicles the unsteady reunion between a father and his two daughters.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2025
The mother, while not as severely impaired, is unsteady on her feet and depends on a cane.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
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But the absence of The Rock—the catalyst of this entire turn—throughout the entire build of WrestleMania, mixed with the sporadic appearances from Cena, hurt the storytelling of what could have been a deeply complex villain.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Justin Turner has been among those helping Workman navigate his first experience with life in the big leagues and sporadic playing time.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Core inflation, which excludes more volatile energy, food, alcohol and tobacco prices, rose by 3.4% in the year to March, down slightly from 3.5% in February.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2025
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Here’s what their analysis found: Only 8.4% of investors executed trades on any of those days, reacting to the volatile market by buying or selling stocks.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Remember: Antioxidants can slow aging and prevent skin damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.—
Danielle Jackson,
Glamour,
28 Apr. 2025
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Rigid robots are prone to damage in unstable, cramped environments and are expensive to repair.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But with the addition of meaty tires, the result is bobbling side to side on uneven pavement, and the occasional entertaining hop over water channels at boulevard intersections.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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The formula combines powerful but gentle ingredients like tranexamic acid, kojic acid, and niacinamide to tackle dark spots, acne scars, and uneven tone.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Based on the research, participants lost about 7 to 11 pounds over 10 weeks while intermittent fasting.18 Remember, fad diets are not healthy for you, especially long term.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
23 Apr. 2025
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The pair are searching for the source of a particular beep: the intermittent ping that a smoke alarm makes when its battery is running low.—
Kirk Johnson,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The source said Republicans view Powell as an important pillar of stability in the U.S. economy amid Trump’s unpredictable tariff war against foreign trading partners, including allies such as Canada, Japan, South Korean and Taiwan.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
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Spring temps can be unpredictable, so don’t forget to add on a pashmina-style shawl and some statement earrings.—
Jené Luciani Sena,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The house that the Americans strategically position themselves in is home to two families; there are occasional insert shots of family photos and trinkets, and at several points these families are shown cowering, terrified by what’s happening around them.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2025
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In general, bigleaf hydrangeas require little pruning, save for occasional shaping and thinning.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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