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Definitions

unsteady

[uhn-sted-ee] / ʌnˈstɛd i /
ADJECTIVE
shaky
Synonyms
STRONGEST
erratic groggy precarious rickety rocky unstable wobbly
WEAK
capricious changeable dizzy fickle fluctuating giddy inconstant quivery shifting teetering tippy unreliable unsettled unsound vacillating variable wabbly wavering wayward wiggly
Antonyms
STRONGEST
certain definite dependable stable steady strong sure

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.

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.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Yet they have to correct for a yearslong decline in employer response rates to BLS surveys—which does not negate the data overall, but certainly makes preliminary calculations a bit more unsteady and speculative.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

So why haven’t these headlines done more to calm an unsteady global oil market?

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

In its place is an unsteady equilibrium of tariffs and transactional deals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

“Yeah,” he said, without interest, and brought his glass up with an unsteady hand.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt