unstable

[uhn-stey-buhl] / ʌnˈsteɪ bəl /

ADJECTIVE

doubtful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ambiguous changeable erratic fickle insecure irrational precarious risky rocky sensitive shaky slippery ticklish tricky uncertain unpredictable unsettled unsteady volatile weak wobbly

WEAK

borderline capricious dizzy dubious fitful fluctuating giddy inconsistent inconstant lubricious mercurial mobile movable moving mutable not fixed rickety shifty suspect teetering temperamental untrustworthy vacillating variable wavering weaving wiggly

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain clear confident constant definite dependable easy firm guarded happy predictable protected reliable safe secure sound stable steady strong sure unchanging unshaky

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The researchers believe the shipment sank during a particularly unstable period in Mediterranean history.

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

This is the 17th Ebola outbreak to hit the DRC, a vast and unstable central African country of more than 100 million people.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

But over the short and even intermediate terms, lasting not just several years but decades, gold’s correlation to inflation is unstable.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

FDA status does not mean those people are rough sleeping, instead they are in temporary, unstable situations waiting for the Housing Executive to fulfil its legal duty to rehouse them.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

She wondered why her heart now felt too large for her body, and why she was so unstable in her shoes.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Vocabulary lists containing unstable

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