unsteady

[ uhn-sted-ee ]
/ ʌnˈstɛd i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR unsteady ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not steady or firm; unstable; shaky: an unsteady hand.
fluctuating or wavering: an unsteady flame; unsteady prices.
irregular or uneven: an unsteady development.

verb (used with object), un·stead·ied, un·stead·y·ing.

to make unsteady.

Origin of unsteady

First recorded in 1525–35; un-1 + steady

SYNONYMS FOR unsteady

1 See unsettled.
2 vacillating, flickering.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR unsteady ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM unsteady

un·stead·i·ly, adverb un·stead·i·ness, noun

Words nearby unsteady

unstained, unstalked, unstarry, unstate, unstated, unsteady, unsteel, unstep, unsterile, unstick, unstinting

Words related to unsteadiness

vulnerability, oscillation, fluctuation, alternation, immaturity, vacillation, hesitation, inconsistency, insecurity, pliancy, disquiet, wavering, inquietude, fluidity, weakness, precariousness, irresolution, frailty, volatility, anxiety

Example sentences from the Web for unsteadiness

British Dictionary definitions for unsteadiness

unsteady
/ (ʌnˈstɛdɪ) /

adjective

not securely fixed an unsteady foothold
(of behaviour, etc) lacking constancy; erratic
without regularity an unsteady rhythm
(of a manner of walking, etc) precarious, staggering, as from intoxication

verb -steadies, -steadying or -steadied

(tr) to make unsteady

Derived forms of unsteady

unsteadily, adverb unsteadiness, noun