instability
noun
in·sta·bil·i·ty
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
: the quality or state of being unstable
especially
: lack of emotional or mental stability
Examples of instability in a Sentence
Investors are worried about the current instability of the stock market.
The patient has a history of emotional instability.
Recent Examples on the Web
Working-class wives work primarily for the money rather than career satisfaction; this results in more marital tension, which can fuel marital instability that spirals into yet more economic insecurity.
—
Joan C. Williams
june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
Yet Putin has organized Russia’s economy around the war effort and imposed draconian restrictions on civil society since 2022 — measures that will be difficult to change without risking internal instability, Western officials and observers suggest.
—Joel Gehrke, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
The net result will be to increase hunger and financial instability among households with children, older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans—while also sending tens of thousands of people into unemployment.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
These include food insecurity, housing instability and links to depression, anxiety and even suicidal behaviors.
—Kathy Szeliga, Baltimore Sun, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for instability
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.
Joan C. Williams
june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
Yet Putin has organized Russia’s economy around the war effort and imposed draconian restrictions on civil society since 2022 — measures that will be difficult to change without risking internal instability, Western officials and observers suggest.
—Joel Gehrke, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
The net result will be to increase hunger and financial instability among households with children, older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans—while also sending tens of thousands of people into unemployment.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
These include food insecurity, housing instability and links to depression, anxiety and even suicidal behaviors.
—Kathy Szeliga, Baltimore Sun, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for instability
Cite this Entry
“Instability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instability. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instability
noun
in·sta·bil·i·ty
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē
: the quality or state of being unstable
Medical Definition
instability
noun
in·sta·bil·i·ty
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē
plural instabilities
: the quality or state of being unstable
especially
: lack of emotional or mental stability
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share