1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a year of unsteady economic growth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unsteady
The camera becomes unsteady and points toward the sky and then returns to the street view showing Good’s SUV careening away.
—
Rebecca Santana, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
The atmosphere in the courtroom was notably strange, somehow unsteady, as if gravity had been tampered with.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Williams, unfortunately, is so wrong-footed by the requirements of the period’s rhythms that her first heavily accented appearance, in a dockside saloon, is her most unsteady.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Rebecca Santana, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
The atmosphere in the courtroom was notably strange, somehow unsteady, as if gravity had been tampered with.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Williams, unfortunately, is so wrong-footed by the requirements of the period’s rhythms that her first heavily accented appearance, in a dockside saloon, is her most unsteady.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
-
Siffre took a sporadic approach to releasing music over the years, dropping six albums in a five-year span during the ’70s, including his standout LP Crying Laughing Loving Lying, before retiring.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
-
With Yemen challenged by the social and economic effects of a sporadic but ongoing civil war between Houthi rebels and the central government, conditions have proven difficult for Almatrahi and his family members to visit their homeland.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images As stock markets continue to be volatile, investors looking for a stable income stream can bolster their portfolios with the addition of attractive dividend stocks.—
,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Core inflation, which strips out volatile categories, was also right in line with expectations.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And, as predicted, the blizzard arrived, delivering blankets of unstable powder.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The storm arrived as predicted and by Tuesday morning had dumped several feet of fresh, unstable snow.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This top is business in the front (the draped, halter neckline and uneven hem) and a party in the back (the open back).—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a real-time planning and control framework that significantly improves how two-legged robots recover from sudden disturbances while walking on uneven or moving terrain.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Unlike intermittent renewables, nuclear energy provides a reliable, carbon-free baseload power, an attractive option to meet AI’s high energy demands.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
-
From TikTok and Instagram influencers to celebrities like Hugh Jackman and Kourtney Kardashian, intermittent fasting has gotten a lot of hype.—
Regina G. Barber,
NPR,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In today's environment, where inflation pressures haven't fully disappeared and energy costs remain unpredictable, different silver miners can react very differently to the same silver price move.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Trump remains unpredictable, though, and eager to seek retribution.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Senior royals, usually greeted by cheering crowds, have in recent years faced occasional heckles from members of the public relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Yes, Florida comes with the occasional hurricane, but the tradeoff is daily sunshine, endless outdoor activities, cultural experiences, and the chance to wake up somewhere that feels like a permanent vacation.—
Carrie Honaker,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
