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
But in the moment this flawed, unsteady Heat team played its heart out.
—
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Szépvölgyi mocked the prime minister, who is 62, for seeming unsteady when boos erupted at one of his recent rallies.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Bass, who was out of the country when the fire broke out, was unsteady in her early public appearances and, since then, has faced sharp criticism over the pace of the rebuilding.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
One outcome — perhaps, a five-point plan While Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and others are actively pursuing diplomacy, Iran and Israel are not interested, and the United States appears baffled and unsteady.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Szépvölgyi mocked the prime minister, who is 62, for seeming unsteady when boos erupted at one of his recent rallies.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Bass, who was out of the country when the fire broke out, was unsteady in her early public appearances and, since then, has faced sharp criticism over the pace of the rebuilding.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
One outcome — perhaps, a five-point plan While Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and others are actively pursuing diplomacy, Iran and Israel are not interested, and the United States appears baffled and unsteady.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
-
There were sporadic injuries reported as well as some arrests and property damage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
-
Flowers nearly cover the plant in spring, followed by sporadic blooms throughout the season.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Everything is imperfect and volatile.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
Gas and oil prices have been rising but volatile since the conflict began.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Why Sorting Laundry Was Traditionally Important Before advances in fabric manufacturing, many dyes were unstable.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
While highly energetic, these ions are unstable.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
These Italian suede sneakers feature a durable gum sole that’s perfect for a long day of walking without tripping over cobblestones or uneven pavement.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
Elsewhere, shopping was uneven.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
According to Costigan and McIntyre, one 4-hour USB-charge should be good for seven to eight hours of runtime in high-intensity intermittent mode, or approximately 14 hours in the lowest-intensity steady output mode.—
Ben Coxworth
May 15,
New Atlas,
15 May 2026
-
But 2026 has marked a new nadir for one of the world’s oldest civilizations, with the government’s massacre of anti-regime protestors in January and widespread destruction from the United States’ and Israel’s intermittent war.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
That's difficult because oncology is among the most expensive and unpredictable areas of healthcare, with high drug costs and the fragmented care that attracted the company's attention in the first place.—
Ellen Sheng,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
Produced by Kunal Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani through their Drongo Films banner, Vibe centers on two inseparable friends whose ordinary, unassuming lives spiral into an unpredictable, high-energy adventure that pushes their survival instincts and friendship to the limit.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
19 May 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
-
The concentrated schedule created a sense of occasion and urgency that is diluted when games are spread across Thursdays, occasional Wednesdays, Friday holidays, Saturday nights, Sunday mornings and multiple streaming-exclusive windows.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
This is a play that takes young people and their problems seriously, while incorporating occasional humor into the script and direction.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
