Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Unstable

//ʌnˈsteɪ.bəl// adj, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Not stable.

    "unstable foundation"

  2. 2
    Having a strong tendency to change.

    "The dawn of the oil age was fairly recent. Although the stuff was used to waterproof boats in the Middle East 6,000 years ago, extracting it in earnest began only in 1859 after an oil strike in Pennsylvania.[…]It was used to make kerosene, the main fuel for artificial lighting after overfishing led to a shortage of whale blubber. Other liquids produced in the refining process, too unstable or smoky for lamplight, were burned or dumped."

  3. 3
    Fluctuating; not constant.

    "politically unstable"

  4. 4
    Fickle.
  5. 5
    Unpredictable.
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    Readily decomposable.

    "chemically unstable"

  2. 7
    Radioactive, especially with a short half-life.
Adjective
  1. 1
    subject to change; variable wordnet
  2. 2
    affording no ease or reassurance wordnet
  3. 3
    highly or violently reactive wordnet
  4. 4
    disposed to psychological variability wordnet
  5. 5
    suffering from severe mental illness wordnet
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    lacking stability or fixity or firmness wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To release (an animal) from a stable. transitive

    "When the last tune of music floated from the fleet, he unstabled his quarter horse and headed for the coastal road leading west and north on his circuit."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English unstable; equivalent to un- (not) + stable.

Etymology 2

From un- (reversive prefix) + stable.

See also for "unstable"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: unstable