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

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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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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
Good thing about that wall, because with this unsettled bunch, there will be plenty of them. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 Warm, humid and unsettled weather returns next week A gradual warming trend gets underway as early as Sunday afternoon with highs reaching into the middle and upper 70s. — Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
Todd also mentioned feeling shut out from Grace’s thoughts and decision-making process; of course he’s been unsettled and worried as well as resentful. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 Anthropic doesn’t share much financial information with lenders and the exact level of its obligations struck some investors as unsettled. — Ellen Dimauro, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 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
  • Instead, the name of the game is to create pockets of stability in an inherently volatile business.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Targeting a smaller raise could protect a higher valuation, but might trigger skepticism over how the AI firm will fund its massive infrastructure needs in a volatile bond market.
    — Justin Zacks, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • Traditional credit monitoring generally will not detect the misuse itself, although unpaid debts could eventually create other financial complications.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The idea is to let an assistant check connected accounts for tasks such as unpaid invoices and draft reminders without waiting for a prompt, so users spend less time figuring out what to ask for.
    — Wen Shao, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpaid
Adjective
  • The settlement does not include the estate’s claims against dentist Jason Mirabile, which remain pending.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Dozens of lawsuits remain pending, including claims related to the handling of mass pro-immigration protests since last year, probably putting taxpayers on the hook for more large payouts in the future.
    — Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of pending
Adjective
  • The Salt Lake County clerk requests assistance to secure the polls, but the sheriff, unsure about jurisdiction, declines.
    — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The equipment truck had left spring training in Tempe, Arizona, and was in Salt Lake City, unsure where to go, when Selig called traveling secretary Tommy Ferguson, who had held the same job with the Braves.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsure
Verb
  • An officer responded to PSA, and police said about two pallets of cards were stolen from the truck and a third was disturbed.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • As one of the most effective natural sinks for carbon, peatlands could accelerate climate change if disturbed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbed
Adjective
  • Holy Cross and the Lower Ninth Ward that borders it are known for their quiet ambiance, grocery store deserts, and drawbridge access with unpredictable hours.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Frost leaves orchard with few apples to harvest The unpredictable weather has forced the farm to adjust to get through the season.
    — Tara Lynch, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • Highfill maintains a covenant requiring utility rates to generate net revenues equal to at least 110% of maximum annual debt service on outstanding system bonds.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The debt reflects the principal amount outstanding under convertible notes Anthropic issued to Amazon starting in 2023, according to the lab's prospectus.
    — Ashley Capoot,Jordan Novet,Annie Palmer,Lora Kolodny,Kai Nicol-Schwarz,Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • Kim Hong-Cheol, the South Korean military official, said leaving the dispute over the military demarcation line unresolved would increase the risk of accidental clashes because troops from both sides act on their own understanding of the line.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Western governments backing the peace initiative are seeking a new formula to break the impasse while acknowledging that territorial and security questions remain unresolved.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of unresolved

Browse Nearby Words

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unsettled
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Cite this Entry

“Unsettled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettled. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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