instability
noun
in·sta·bil·i·ty
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
: the quality or state of being unstable
especially
: lack of emotional or mental stability
Examples of instability in a Sentence
Investors are worried about the current instability of the stock market.
The patient has a history of emotional instability.
Recent Examples on the Web
And when her brother-in-law, Stanley (Marlon Brando), rapes her, her descent into madness was made all the more vivid and believable by Leigh's precise depiction of vulnerability and instability.
—
Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
Chronic conflict can also create a sense of instability and mistrust among family members.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
Both countries have faced security risks and instability during the conflict.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 15 Mar. 2026
The film’s amber light and ample bell-bottoms situate it firmly in the late 1970s, a time of repressive dictatorships and jittery paranoia, triggered by political malfeasance and instability across the world.
—Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instability
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Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
Chronic conflict can also create a sense of instability and mistrust among family members.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
Both countries have faced security risks and instability during the conflict.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 15 Mar. 2026
The film’s amber light and ample bell-bottoms situate it firmly in the late 1970s, a time of repressive dictatorships and jittery paranoia, triggered by political malfeasance and instability across the world.
—Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instability
Cite this Entry
“Instability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instability. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instability
noun
in·sta·bil·i·ty
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē
: the quality or state of being unstable
Medical Definition
instability
noun
in·sta·bil·i·ty
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē
plural instabilities
: the quality or state of being unstable
especially
: lack of emotional or mental stability
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