unstable
unstable Lexical Profile
unstable Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Not firmly fixed in place; likely to move, wobble, give way, or overturn.
"The carpenter repaired the unstable wooden ladder before anyone attempted to climb up to the roof."
Prone to sudden change, fluctuation, or breakdown; lacking permanence or security.
"Foreign investors remained cautious due to the region's unstable economic climate."
Prone to sudden mood swings, erratic behavior, or psychological disturbance.
"In the novel, the protagonist struggles to cope with an emotionally unstable mentor."
Readily decomposing, reacting, or undergoing radioactive decay (of a chemical compound, atomic nucleus, or subatomic particle).
"The laboratory technicians stored the unstable isotope in a specialized containment vessel."
• Rhymes for unstable
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English from the native privative prefix un- and the adjective stable, which entered English via Old French from the Latin stabilis, meaning 'standing firm' or 'steadfast'.