1
as in unsteady
not being in or able to maintain a state of balance
the minute we put the books down on the unstable desk, the whole stack went crashing to the floor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
financial investors don't like an unstable economy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in changing
not staying constant
unstable temperatures are not ideal storage conditions for wine
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unstable
Wilson’s injury came at a particularly unstable time for the Aces with other players on pregnancy leave and dealing with injuries of their own.
—
Grace Jordan-Weinstein, People.com, 1 July 2025
Antioxidants can help combat free radicals, unstable molecules that damage the body’s cells and can lead to cancer.2
Small amounts of fluoride, folate, vitamin A, vitamin K, and beta-carotene can be found in raw tomatoes.
—Andrea Michelson, Verywell Health, 30 June 2025
Antioxidants can prevent cell damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.1211
Note that pickles are high in sodium, which may be an issue for people with high blood pressure.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 24 June 2025
But in chronic pain, the bridge between these proteins becomes unstable and starts to fall apart.
—Siddhesh Sabnis, The Conversation, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Grace Jordan-Weinstein, People.com, 1 July 2025
Antioxidants can help combat free radicals, unstable molecules that damage the body’s cells and can lead to cancer.2
Small amounts of fluoride, folate, vitamin A, vitamin K, and beta-carotene can be found in raw tomatoes.
—Andrea Michelson, Verywell Health, 30 June 2025
Antioxidants can prevent cell damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.1211
Note that pickles are high in sodium, which may be an issue for people with high blood pressure.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 24 June 2025
But in chronic pain, the bridge between these proteins becomes unstable and starts to fall apart.
—Siddhesh Sabnis, The Conversation, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unstable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstable
Adjective
-
As the uncertainty wears on, business leaders face an unsteady economic future, meaning Indiana could see less hiring and less investment in the local economy, Hummels said.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
-
With Showtime launched in 2023 after a couple of unsteady years as a bundle of the two discrete services — the stand-alone streamer Paramount+ (f.k.a.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Camp Mystic was first established in 1926, but as flood data and modeling has improved in recent years, governments have debated how to best manage people who live, work and play along volatile rivers.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
That matters for investors seeking capital preservation as equity and bond markets remain volatile.—
Artem Milinchuk,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
For graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in particular, funding uncertainty has placed them in a precarious position.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2025
-
Trump’s use of the term comes at a precarious time, as instances of antisemitism and hate crimes towards Jewish Americans have surged in recent years, especially since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike cheaper rebounders that can feel stiff or unpredictable, this one stays sturdy and responsive.—
Jordan Galloway,
SELF,
15 July 2025
-
Scientists believe these unpredictable, destructive storms are linked to climate change.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
The pandemic may have accelerated long-standing public health challenges, and the recovery, the study makes clear, has been uneven and incomplete.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
-
Whether dealing with slick grass, gravel paths, or uneven surfaces, the Sunseeker Elite X7 maintains control and performance with minimal slippage.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Marvin Burks and Dre Norwood seek redemption At strong safety, junior Marvin Burks Jr. returns after a rocky 2024 season.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
10 July 2025
-
His record-breaking season got off to a rocky start with TCU sitting at 3-3 in large part due to his inability to protect the football and the lack of a run game to alleviate the pressure on him.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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All of a sudden, everyone’s reality is completely unbalanced — nobody knows what to make of it!—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
22 June 2025
-
Coral reefs suffered, fish populations became unbalanced, and the ocean’s health declined.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unstable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstable. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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