unstable

adjective
UK: /ʌnˈsteɪ.bəl/
US: /ʌnˈsteɪ.bəl/

  1. Not steady; likely to move or fall.

    1. The table is unstable and wobbly.
    2. The pile of books was unstable, threatening to topple over at any moment.

  2. Not constant; likely to change suddenly.

    1. The weather is very unstable today.
    2. His emotional state was unstable after receiving the bad news.

  3. Not physically or chemically steady; likely to decompose or react.

    1. This chemical compound is unstable.
    2. The isotope is unstable and undergoes radioactive decay.

  4. In a state of political or economic uncertainty.

    1. The country's government is unstable right now.
    2. The economic situation remains unstable despite recent government efforts.

Synonyms

shaky unsteady volatile changeable insecure precarious

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "unstable" in English means: Not steady; likely to move or fall., Not constant; likely to change suddenly., Not physically or chemically steady; likely to decompose or react., In a state of political or economic uncertainty..

The phonetic transcription of "unstable" is /ʌnˈsteɪ.bəl/ in British English and /ʌnˈsteɪ.bəl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "unstable": shaky, unsteady, volatile, changeable, insecure, precarious.

Example usage of "unstable": "The table is unstable and wobbly.". More examples on the page.