unstable
128
4.4
- adjective
- /ʌnˈsteɪbəl/
- The sculpture at the gallery was unstable and needed support to prevent it from falling.
- politically unstable
- stable or unstable
- an unstable environment
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Watch on YouTubeAnd that's a very, a, a very unstable set up, as it turns out.
- And that's a very, a, a very unstable set up, as it turns out.
- But obviously social media can be a very unstable job.
- It's an unstable system that's crazy to live in a unstable system.
- Obviously if there's euphoria then you could end up causing unstable prices and inflation again.
- In this case, they sought out young women, often from financially unstable homes.
- The bullet looks a little bit unstable there.
Examples
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The bridge was deemed unsafe because it had become unstable after the earthquake.
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A massive up day is just as unstable as a massive down day.
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Information and intelligence were unstable and hard to judge.
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Long hours, unstable income, back breaking work.
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But obviously social media can be a very unstable job.
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This is an unstable system, and this town should be on alert.
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Her coordination is unstable at best.
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At the same time, the image of Pocahontas in the American mind has been an unstable one.
Academic text (2015) -
Suspension of debt service resulted in an unstable investment climate and a decline in capital inflows.
Academic text (1990) -
So I came twirling towards the ground with an unstable parachute above my head.
Synonyms
166
4.4
Likely to change suddenly and hard to know in advance
106
7.0
Likely to change suddenly and become more dangerous
82
6.1
Not regular or predictable and likely to change suddenly
71
3.3
Not firm or safe and likely to fail
46
7.6
In a dangerous, unstable position likely to fall or fail
45
5.1
Not fixed or stable and likely to change
40
6.2
Changing often in a way you cannot rely on
36
6.6
Full of confusion and disorder among people, politics, or events
33
3.6
Unsteady and likely to move from side to side
16
3.3
Not firm or balanced and likely to fall
7
7.0
Tending to fail or change without warning
6
6.1
Changing up and down often in a way you cannot guess
4
4.3
Weather that often changes, bringing rain or strong wind
2
4.3
Not safe because it might fail or break
2
7.5
Changing often and not staying the same
2
7.5
Unstable and likely to fall or fail soon
1
9.7
Able to change or break down easily
1
4.4
Not firmly fixed and likely to come loose
1
8.0
Soft ground that moves or sinks easily
Likely to wobble or break, like a weak chair
Shaky and likely to fall over when you touch it
Antonyms
How Stable
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Unstable is built from un- meaning 'not' and stable meaning 'standing firm' or 'steady'. So when something is unstable it does not 'stand firm' and can change, fall, or fail.