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
At the end of last season's first month, Philadelphia was an unsteady 2-2 and its coach was on the hot seat.
—
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 Sep. 2025
But certain regimes remain tricky to simulate perfectly, such as unsteady interactions at off‑design angles, boundary‑layer transition, and inlet buzz, which is why scaled wind‑tunnel models still earn their keep validating corner cases before full‑scale testing.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
That doesn't mean the Avata 2 is unsteady, however.
—PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025
These lakes can exist behind unsteady dams made of ice or bedrock, and when these dams fail, the water rushes out, often resulting in catastrophic downstream flooding.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 Sep. 2025
But certain regimes remain tricky to simulate perfectly, such as unsteady interactions at off‑design angles, boundary‑layer transition, and inlet buzz, which is why scaled wind‑tunnel models still earn their keep validating corner cases before full‑scale testing.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
That doesn't mean the Avata 2 is unsteady, however.
—PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025
These lakes can exist behind unsteady dams made of ice or bedrock, and when these dams fail, the water rushes out, often resulting in catastrophic downstream flooding.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
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Despite some concessions from President William Ruto, sporadic, large-scale protests have continued this year, mainly organized on social media.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
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This isn’t a strong position for first-year players, so Graham gets the top spot based on those sporadic flashes.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This potential hindrance to growth adds another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile policy outlook.—
John Melloy,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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The remnants of a tropical storm that brought steamy rain and a volatile atmosphere to the Bay Area last week have faded, according to the National Weather Service.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Those settlers managed to make an underground river with murderous maggots on unstable terrain into a tourist attraction in record time.—
Ann Patchett,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
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Gun violence, social media, and an unstable economy all contribute to their mental health struggles.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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It’s been a rough couple of years and an uneven few weeks for the Broncos’ secondary, which often finds itself on the receiving end of criticism for surrendering big plays and big passing yards.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Sep. 2025
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For the uninitiated, navigating the uneven streets in high heels is a balancing act.—
Abbey Hudetz,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Advertisement There have also been intermittent drug shortages that have affected doctors’ ability to quickly treat pregnant people with syphilis, Finley says.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
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For a large utility like TVA, the exploration of fusion is part of a long-term strategy to identify reliable, on-demand, and non-emitting power sources that can operate alongside intermittent renewables like solar and wind.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Prepare for mood swings as the moon clashes with unpredictable Uranus.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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The Roval is among the most unpredictable races on the NASCAR calendar.—
Shane Connuck
October 3,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Front man Coleman cuts a tall, brooding figure, saving his emotions for his vocal delivery and occasional pronouncements on the importance of faith.—
Brian McCollum,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
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Sticky snow covered the branches, along with occasional yellow dots of llao llao, an edible fungus native to the region.—
Scott Yorko,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 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 5 Oct. 2025.
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