unsettled
Americanadjective
-
not settled; not fixed or stable; without established order; unorganized; disorganized.
an unsettled social order; still unsettled in their new home.
- Antonyms:
- stable
-
continuously moving or changing; not situated in one place.
an unsettled life.
-
wavering or uncertain, as in opinions or behavior; unstable; erratic.
an unsettled state of mind.
- Antonyms:
- stable
-
not populated or settled, as a region.
an unsettled wilderness.
-
undetermined, as a point at issue; undecided; doubtful.
After many years the matter was still unsettled.
- Synonyms:
- unsure, indeterminate
-
not adjusted, closed, or disposed of, as an account, estate, or law case.
-
liable to change; inconstant; variable.
unsettled weather.
- Synonyms:
- irresolute, fickle, vacillating
adjective
-
lacking order or stability
an unsettled era
-
unpredictable; uncertain
an unsettled climate
-
constantly changing or moving from place to place
an unsettled life
-
(of controversy, etc) not brought to an agreed conclusion
-
(of debts, law cases, etc) not disposed of
-
(of regions, etc) devoid of settlers
Usage
What does unsettled mean? Something that is unsettled is not stable or is unorganized, as in While the contractor works on the kitchen, all of our kitchen things are unsettled.Unsettled is most often used figuratively to mean undecided, unadjusted, or wavering. Someone who is unsettled is normally disturbed by some type of imagery or by a decision they have made. They may be unable to focus or have a lot of different emotions—they feel unsettled.Literally, something that is unsettled is off balance, moving constantly, or unstable. A building slowly sliding down a hill is an example of a structure that has become unsettled. Unsettled can apply to anything that moves, such as animals, vehicles, or even rainclouds. When you say movement is unsettled, you’re saying the movement is erratic.Unsettled land is land where no one or very few people live. Example: That scary movie made me so unsettled that I couldn’t sleep for a week.
Related Words
Unsettled, unstable, unsteady imply a lack of fixity, firmness, and dependability. That which is unsettled is not fixed or determined: unsettled weather; unsettled claims. That which is unstable is wavering, changeable; easily moved, shaken, or overthrown: unstable equilibrium; an unstable decision. That which is unsteady is infirm or shaky in position or movement: unsteady on one's feet; unsteady of purpose.
Other Word Forms
- unsettledness noun
Etymology
Origin of unsettled
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Alongside a stunning display of autumn colours September and October saw a return to unsettled conditions.
From BBC
Inevitably all this has unsettled France, for whom Togo was once regarded as among the most devoted of allies.
From BBC
No one seemed too unsettled by the moral or bodily hazard, not the least of all the state of Florida, which sanctioned the mismatch.
She said she was unsettled by the indictment against the congressman but could never bring herself to vote against him.
Residents on the otherwise quiet, suburban street have described how the tumult of the last 48 hours has unsettled the neighbourhood.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
