unsettled 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-ˈse-tᵊld How to pronounce unsettled (audio)
Definition of unsettlednext
1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly we've been having a lot of unsettled weather lately

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unpaid
not yet paid I keep unsettled bills next to the checkbook

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pending
not yet settled or decided we can't move on as long as this important question remains unsettled

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4
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something I'm still unsettled about whether I should take that job

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unsettled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of unsettle
as in disturbed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unsettled
Adjective
After a stormy Fourth of July weekend, Baltimore will begin the week with unsettled weather as a slow-moving system lingers over the region. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026 Whether that rationale extends to an innocent taxpayer because of third-party misconduct remains unsettled. — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
Some travelers were unsettled by a Ukrainian drone attack earlier this week on a passenger train traveling from Moscow to Crimea, injuring its driver and killing his assistant. — ABC News, 11 June 2026 The borrowing is heavily long-dated, reflecting the multi-decade life the companies assign to their data centers, which loads more interest-rate sensitivity onto buyers at a time when the direction of rates is unsettled. — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsettled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettled
  1. volatile
  2. unpaid
  3. pending
  4. unsure
  5. disturbed
  6. unpredictable
  7. outstanding
  8. unresolved
Adjective
  • Related Stories Set in 1948 Malaya in the volatile years that followed the end of World War II, the film traces a Malay soldier and a British soldier who are left behind after the British military withdraws.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • While the rally continued into early 2026, trade soon turned volatile.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • The value of unpaid caregiving now exceeds $1 trillion annually — more than total Medicaid spending — yet most families still approach it as an unexpected personal challenge rather than a predictable planning event.
    — John Samuels, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Simply being related to the deceased doesn't automatically make someone personally liable for unpaid balances.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of unpaid
Adjective
  • Penguins pre-free agency re-signings The biggest pending unrestricted free agent for the Penguins going into this offseason was center and assistant captain Evgeni Malkin.
    — Patrick Damp, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • The Sabres received a 2027 third-round pick and forward David Kämpf, who’s a pending UFA, from the Capitals.
    — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of pending
Adjective
  • Standards are high at the Etihad Stadium after 10 years of Guardiola and Manchester City is counting on Maresca being the right man to keep this going even if many of the club’s own supporters are unsure.
    — Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • People are unsure about the industry for good reason, with everything happening with AI and in the world.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 28 June 2026
Definition of unsure
Verb
  • The location of the digging also could have disturbed another grave that may now be unmarked.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
  • Home to North America’s tallest mountain, Denali's six million acres of wilderness are disturbed by only one road.
    — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Definition of disturbed
Adjective
  • Analysts expect gas prices to continue falling but remain unpredictable due to geopolitical tensions.
    — Keith Laing, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Your personal life could feel crowded, unpredictable and emotionally overwhelming, Scorpio.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • Watson was always known for incredibly quick hands and outstanding bat speed.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Another outstanding rug in the lineup this week is this easy-to-clean jute number from Joon Loloi at 60% off.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 1 July 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • The union said that unresolved complaints made against Hawk and existing climate issues have significantly diminished confidence among many educators.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026
  • And until organizations are willing to ask structural questions rather than people questions, the condition will persist — well-documented, carefully measured, and entirely unresolved.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of unresolved

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unsettled
unsettledness
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Cite this Entry

“Unsettled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettled. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unsettled

Nglish: Translation of unsettled for Spanish Speakers

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