1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a year of unsteady economic growth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unstable
not being in or able to maintain a state of balance
cautiously climbed up the unsteady ladder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in uneven
not staying constant
unsteady business conditions that rattled investors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsteady
The mother, while not as severely impaired, is unsteady on her feet and depends on a cane.
—
Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
On Doctor Who, off the back of reports that the future of the BBC-Disney+ deal is still unsteady, neither Fussell or Bennett would be drawn on what will happen beyond Ncuti Gatwa’s second season.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025
His unsteady grip on reality means his decisions are guided by insecurity and ego, not the nation’s interests.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Even with that, the rest of the house poses an ongoing danger with anyone unsteady on one’s feet.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
On Doctor Who, off the back of reports that the future of the BBC-Disney+ deal is still unsteady, neither Fussell or Bennett would be drawn on what will happen beyond Ncuti Gatwa’s second season.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025
His unsteady grip on reality means his decisions are guided by insecurity and ego, not the nation’s interests.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Even with that, the rest of the house poses an ongoing danger with anyone unsteady on one’s feet.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
-
During her active years with WWE, which spanned from 2006 to her initial departure in 2012 and included subsequent sporadic returns for special appearances, Kelly Kelly achieved a significant milestone by capturing the WWE Divas Championship.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
-
These societies could survive without the sporadic acquisition of meat, anthropologists note.—
Amanda Ruggeri,
Time,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Relievers have always been volatile, prone to inconsistency and bouts of wildness.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Trading since has been extremely volatile, with the stock down 13% on Friday, leaving it 18% above its IPO price.—
Annie Palmer,Leslie Picker,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This unstable dwelling, with its crumbling walls and lack of proper bedrooms for the children, comes to stand for a far more sinister lack of boundaries.—
Leslie Camhi,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2025
-
If someone is making credible threats or is mentally unstable, existing laws already allow for arrests, mental health evaluations, and emergency detentions—all of which come with constitutional safeguards.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But also undeniable is the Heat receiving tangible depth from the Plan B trade with Butler, depth that arguably had previously been lacking amid the uneven seasons of Terry Rozier and Jaime Jaquez Jr., as well as depth compromised by the broken hand of Nikola Jovic.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2025
-
After running out of steam with the uneven 1992 sister albums Lucky Town and Human Touch, Springsteen spent most of the decade raising his kids and tentatively circling a reunion with the E Street Band while searching for new directions.—
Ryan Leas,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
During intermittent periods for minutes at a time, the NYPD and MTAPD strategically closed certain doors temporarily out of the hundreds of doors throughout the terminal to prevent additional demonstrators from entering.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Invisible geckos belt out intermittent clicks from the foliage, as brown pelicans sweep lazily across the sky, patrolling the shoreline for their daily fill.—
Ashlee Marie Preston,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Fittingly, given the unpredictable nature of the campaign, who knows what the result or circumstances will be at Tottenham Hotspur on the day Hurzeler’s first season draws to a close?—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Probably Not Complicating matters is that Trump’s trade policy is unpredictable.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
During its initial 26-season run, episodes centered around the adventures of our favorite regenerating Time Lord scientist from the planet Gallifrey and his occasional companions aboard the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimensions In Space) time machine designed like an innocent British police box.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
11 Mar. 2025
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But occasional glimmers of hope appear, like a recent tech conference that brought together hundreds of young Syrians, and a small number of Syrian-Americans, including Omira, at a Sheraton Hotel ballroom in the capital Damascus.—
Greg Myre,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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 18 Apr. 2025.
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