unsteady

adjective

Definition of unsteadynext
1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence a year of unsteady economic growth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly in the days of sailing ships, mariners were constantly at the mercy of unsteady winds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unstable
not being in or able to maintain a state of balance cautiously climbed up the unsteady ladder

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in uneven
not staying constant unsteady business conditions that rattled investors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 unsteady But, fighting Parkinson’s disease, his body was visibly unsteady on that July night. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 18 Sep. 2026 It’s been such an unsteady year, Andrew Friedman’s two big offseason acquisitions have been busts. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 Snitker pointed to broader economic unease — including unsettled inflation, shifting tariff policy and a Federal Reserve that has yet to commit to a clear rate path — as a backdrop that has left the market feeling unsteady without destabilizing it. — Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 11 Sep. 2026 But there are gaps where the chain has disappeared making an unsteady road frighteningly dangerous. — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
  1. sporadic
  2. volatile
  3. unstable
  4. uneven
  5. intermittent
  6. unpredictable
  7. changing
  8. occasional
Adjective
  • In the absence of regular data, analysts and activists interested in immigration trends have relied on information obtained through lawsuits or limited and sporadic information released by federal agencies to track deportation data.
    — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Only some regional operators have continued sporadic services, generally using smaller feeder vessels.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of sporadic
Adjective
  • To their credit, the creative minds behind the Absolute series don’t bother masking their politics — an especially bold move for anyone working in an industry with an often reactive and volatile fandom.
    — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Still, the prospect of additional supply from American producers remains uncertain, with companies reluctant to commit to major new investments amid volatile prices and geopolitical risks.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • Water essentially acts as a catalyst that spontaneously creates particles known as hydroxyl radicals, unstable molecules linked to aging and disease.
    — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • If a tree appears diseased, unstable or at risk of falling, consider documenting the problem and notifying the owner in writing.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of unstable
Adjective
  • The brand's signature technology combines a retinoid with lactic acid to smooth fine lines, uneven tone, and rough texture, and its AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads take things a step further.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
  • These accounts often waive monthly fees without a minimum balance and offer larger transaction or cash deposit allowances, since nonprofits may see uneven cash flow tied to grant cycles and fundraising.
    — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • People went through the admission and security checkpoints without issues, and the event’s early evening acts enjoyed mostly dry stages with light, intermittent rain.
    — Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Ohtani has been playing with a bad knee and biceps for three months, and the Dodgers already have tried intermittent rest.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of intermittent
Adjective
  • Rashida Jones and Will McCormack wrote the screenplay for the film that follows two couples at a dinner party that turns into an unpredictable evening exposing messy relationships and desires.
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The Serbian leader had long been seen as an unpredictable annoyance, and his balancing act wasn’t particularly subtle.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • Instead, research is increasingly focused on how changing temperatures and precipitation patterns could influence their abundance, seasonal activity and ability to transmit disease.
    — Kylee Rae Noel, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2026
  • This might be the moment to plot a California trip with more changing leaves and less traffic.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of changing
Adjective
  • The New Braunfels, Texas, resident kept a frenetic touring schedule, headlining major Texas venues and mid-sized dance halls around the country, with occasional arena or amphitheater stops opening for Koe Wetzel thrown in.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2026
  • That could make removing space junk a routine service rather than an occasional experiment.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of occasional

Browse Nearby Words

unsteadiness
unsteady
unsterile
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shindig

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All