unsteadily

5 3.9

In a way that is not steady or balanced

adverb
/ʌnˈstɛdɪli/

: inestablemente

With hands that shook, I picked up my tape player and walked unsteadily down the room.
walked unsteadily
rose unsteadily
stood unsteadily

Sharon gave him a perfume hug, pressing unsteadily against him in her gauzy red dress, breast bulging, an earring brushing his face.

Examples

The deputy stood unsteadily, clutching the air for support, trying to focus his eyes.

Fiction book (1995)
"Suddenly, Temple stopped and swayed unsteadily, lifting a hand and pressing it to her forehead."

Fiction book (1994)
When he sees her, he gets up a little unsteadily. # BEN #

Fiction book (1995)
I watch him for ten minutes as he moves from rock to rock, wading unsteadily through the water.

Fiction book (1994)
Finally, he rises unsteadily to his feet, looks around, trying to get his bearings.

Fiction book (1996)
Twenty minutes later, Marissa found herself walking unsteadily down the front steps of the clinic.

Fiction book (1991)
Jada climbed the stairs unsteadily, her feet tarrying, her heart racing ahead.

Fiction book (1993)
Of all people, it was Bill Kilpatrick, balanced on stilts and wading unsteadily toward her.

Fiction book (1996)
When they got back to the car, Daisy was standing unsteadily, with Dusk, her littermate, hovering beside her.

Fiction book (1996)
Megan got out of bed and unsteadily made her way to the bathroom.

Synonyms

precariously

vsunsteadily

10 7.0

In a way that is not steady and could fall

is lack of balance but not always stressing danger

jerkily

vsunsteadily

1 5.2

With sudden, uneven movements that are not smooth

is unsteady overall rather than specifically abrupt or sharp

falteringly

vsunsteadily

1 7.4

In a slow, unsure way that shows little confidence

is about physical instability rather than hesitation or doubt

woozily

vsunsteadily

1 7.3

In a way that feels dizzy and unsteady

is about visible instability rather than an internal dizzy feeling

stumblingly

vsunsteadily

1 7.0

Move or speak in an awkward, unsteady way as if about to fall

is simply lacking steady balance without implying tripping

flickeringly

vsunsteadily

1 7.2

Showing quick, unsteady changes, like a light going on and off

means lacking steady balance rather than short repeated changes

waveringly

vsunsteadily

1 7.5

With an unsteady, unsure voice or movement that shows doubt

is general lack of balance without strong emotional hesitation

flutteringly

vsunsteadily

1 6.8

With light quick shaking movements like a small bird flapping its wings

refers to general instability rather than light playful motion

bumpily

vsunsteadily

1 4.9

In a not smooth way that makes movement uneven

is unstable by balance or firmness, not just rough surface motion

quaveringly

vsunsteadily

1 8.6

In a trembling voice because of fear or strong feeling

is about lacking steady balance not mainly emotional trembling

unstably

vsunsteadily

1 4.8

In a way that is not steady and likely to move, change, or fall

is general lack of balance or firmness not stressing risk of falling

lurchingly

vsunsteadily

1 8.9

With sudden, unsteady movements that make you lose balance

is unsteady in general rather than mainly sudden jerks

Antonyms

steadily

113 2.1

In a regular way without stopping

firmly

102 1.0

With a strong, secure hold so something does not move

How Steady

firmly

102 1.0

steadily

113 2.1

unstably

1 4.8

unsteadily

5 3.9

unevenly

7 3.5

Surface Forms

unsteadily positive

Morphology

unsteadily = unsteady (transparent) = un + steady + ly

Formed by adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'unsteady', yielding a manner adverb with the expected meaning.

Etymology

The word unsteadily is made from un- 'not', steady 'firm or balanced', and -ly 'in a way'. So, unsteadily literally means 'not steady' and describes doing something in a shaky or wobbly way.