1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a year of unsteady economic growth
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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
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3
as in unstable
not being in or able to maintain a state of balance
cautiously climbed up the unsteady ladder
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4
as in uneven
not staying constant
unsteady business conditions that rattled investors
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsteady
These lakes can exist behind unsteady dams made of ice or bedrock, and when these dams fail, the water rushes out, often resulting in catastrophic downstream flooding.
—
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
But the existing options have continued to be unsteady.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2025
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw two touchdown passes in his first NFL preseason game Friday night, shocking many fans after an unsteady start to his NFL career.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2025
The Dolphins also didn’t invest in a safety turning 29 this season who is coming off an unsteady year or two in Pittsburgh.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
But the existing options have continued to be unsteady.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2025
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw two touchdown passes in his first NFL preseason game Friday night, shocking many fans after an unsteady start to his NFL career.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2025
The Dolphins also didn’t invest in a safety turning 29 this season who is coming off an unsteady year or two in Pittsburgh.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
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Kiir and Machar had served in a unity government as part of a peace deal that ended the civil war, but their partnership remained tenuous and sporadic violence has continued between the two sides.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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If done right, rather than being a sporadic on-again, off-again (and, perhaps, threatening) part of workplace life, change will be embraced as a foundational attribute of your organization’s entrepreneurial culture.—
Julia Dhar,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Yet last week’s warning from Jet2, a business respected for its cost control and excellent customer service, has served as a reminder that, for all the impressive growth of recent years, this remains a volatile and sometimes unpredictable sector.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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While any single month can be volatile and revisions can further change our understanding, hiring ground to a halt in May and June in the uncertain aftermath of the Liberation Day tariff announcements.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The situation at home was unstable.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Companies that lean too far in one direction risk either frustrating users with delays or damaging trust with unstable or inaccurate outputs.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Even when Clark returned, her performance was uneven.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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This helps smooth out fingerprints or uneven spots, giving the frame a more professional look.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, subsidies continue to favor intermittent renewables over firm capacity.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Among the variations to consider are situations where one career takes the most time, or one is intermittent, or both are part-time or perhaps seasonal.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Charleston’s unpredictable climate means summer can stretch well into October, then randomly resurface in January.—
Jenn Rice,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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With recent polls showing Mamdani leading his rivals by double digits, the intersection of Hochul’s pragmatism, Mamdani’s outreach, and the powerful symbolism of their evolving relationship promises a uniquely unpredictable contest for New York’s future.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The boats offer a low-effort way to spy on some of the coolest marine life in the region, including bat rays and even the occasional shark.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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By night, Criel entertains guests for intimate dinners — and the occasional artistic performance.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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