unsteady

adjective

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

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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

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

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

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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 Oil prices have been unsteady as hopes rise and fade that the United States and Iran can reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 Early reviews said that House of the Dragon was at the top of its game in season 3, after a periodically unsteady run before that. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Swalwell's absence on the campaign trail allowed Becerra to gain more traction as a seemingly steady Democratic option in a very unsteady race. — Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026 Play Me is third in a series of startling collaborations with producer Justin Raisen, making an unsteady blend of hip-hop textures and the noisy avant-garde. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 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
  • The only other competitors were the Anglo-French Concorde and the sporadic Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 program.
    — David Szondy July 02, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
  • Redevelopment in downtown Miami and the accidental discovery of the mysterious Miami Circle in 1998 have ushered in a quarter-century of sporadic but remarkable archaeological revelations.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of sporadic
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
  • Relying on hand tools instead of heavy machinery, firefighters tunneled through unstable debris to rescue a security guard trapped for eight days.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • In an unstable industry with IP, nepotism and maybe even now artificial intelligence ruling supreme, Ridd and Boa have doubled down on emerging filmmakers with original stories.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026
Definition of unstable
Adjective
  • Household financial resilience also remains uneven, even when many adults report doing okay or living comfortably.
    — Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • The uneven workmanship of the double stitching suggests the giant flag was likely made by amateurs, curators with the historical society have determined.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • Expanding its use displaces coal in Asia and supports the integration of intermittent renewables by providing flexible backup.
    — David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Research has shown, for example, that intermittent fasting may be as effective as low-calorie diets for weight loss.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of intermittent
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
  • In some studies, gloves not changed between tasks had higher bacterial counts and could transfer germs just as easily as ungloved hands, underscoring the need for frequent changing and proper hand hygiene.
    — Evan Moore December 19, Charlotte Observer, 19 Dec. 2025
Definition of changing
Adjective
  • While no one wants a bad night's sleep, most of us experience occasional sleep disruptions stemming from familiar culprits like late-night doomscrolling, too much caffeine, stress or an inconsistent bedtime routine.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Solar power and advanced water recycling systems would eliminate the need for utility hookups, only requiring occasional deliveries of potable water and propane to run the systems.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of occasional

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unsteadiness
unsteady
unsterile
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Cite this Entry

“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unsteady

Nglish: Translation of unsteady for Spanish Speakers

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