1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a year of unsteady economic growth
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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
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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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4
as in uneven
not staying constant
unsteady business conditions that rattled investors
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsteady
Interesting pair of characters, interesting binary moment for the nation: cranky old McCain the war hero, unpredictable, unsteady perhaps, rumbling around the country on the Straight Talk Express (his bus)—and handsome young Obama, the anointed, the noble profile with his arena-swelling cadences.
—
James Parker, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2024
And will assuredly remain so, barring a highly unexpected climb up the standings from a team that has been unsteady all season.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025
While working a route in Aurora’s 9th Ward, Lockhart noticed an elderly man out walking his dog who was unsteady, ultimately falling and injuring his head.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
As an aerodynamics engineer specializing in aeroelastic and unsteady flows, Atlee provided key technical contributions to the original F-16 design that helped define the way that jet looks and flies.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
James Parker, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2024
And will assuredly remain so, barring a highly unexpected climb up the standings from a team that has been unsteady all season.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025
While working a route in Aurora’s 9th Ward, Lockhart noticed an elderly man out walking his dog who was unsteady, ultimately falling and injuring his head.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
As an aerodynamics engineer specializing in aeroelastic and unsteady flows, Atlee provided key technical contributions to the original F-16 design that helped define the way that jet looks and flies.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsteady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsteady
Adjective
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Peoples Gas has been onsite multiple times over the winter and identified the boiler exhaust flue as a potential source of the sporadic smell, district officials said.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
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Local media did sporadic stories about the local flooding, but there were endless reports about Western NC, including from national news outlets.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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His masculinity, though less volatile, is as stunted as Stanley’s.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
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While many are penciling in lower stock values due to higher risks of a recession and elevated inflation due to a rising chance of a trade war, others say the volatile stock market needs some context.—
Medora Lee,
USA TODAY,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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On the flip side, the cushy, rocker-bottom shoe that makes your miles feel oh-so-smooth can leave you wobbly and unstable in the weight room.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
11 Mar. 2025
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Our dependence on oil puts countless service members’ lives at risk and reinforces our reliance on a volatile and unstable global market with the potential to devastate the U.S. economy.—
James Brock,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The main story is very strangely uneven, the routes and caves are often straight pathways with little in them, and none of it is really difficult at all.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
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The formula’s thicker consistency also smooths the nail out, filling in any ridges and uneven texture of the polish.—
Siena Gagliano,
Allure,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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After the know-nothing county board opts to raze the baseball diamond to make way for a school, the teams meet for one final game at their beloved Soldier’s Field, with girlfriends, kids, and local hooligans as intermittent spectators.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
7 Mar. 2025
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And while some similarly reparative serums require some downtime or intermittent usage, this can be applied mindlessly.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Fires are unpredictable, dangerous, and fast-moving, and every second counts.—
Andrew Ansbro,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2025
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And then there’s the appeals process itself, which remains one of the most unpredictable spectacles in the sport.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Winds will increase during the afternoon hours, with occasional gusts to around 15 to 20 mph.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2025
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However, Gen Z is coming of age at a time when the majority of Americans believe that democracy is poorly functioning, and when community is defined by unanswered texts, occasional video calls, and the lack of third spaces.—
Olivia Antigua,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.—
Jordan Kisner Jack Davison,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2022
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Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Unsteady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsteady. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
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