unsettled

[uhn-set-ld]

adjective

1. not settled; not fixed or stable; without established order; unorganized; disorganized.

   an unsettled social order; still unsettled in their new home.

   Antonyms: stable

2. continuously moving or changing; not situated in one place.

   an unsettled life.

3. wavering or uncertain, as in opinions or behavior; unstable; erratic.

   an unsettled state of mind.

   Antonyms: stable

4. not populated or settled, as a region.

   an unsettled wilderness.

5. undetermined, as a point at issue; undecided; doubtful.

   After many years the matter was still unsettled.

   Synonyms: unsure, indeterminate

6. not adjusted, closed, or disposed of, as an account, estate, or law case.

7. liable to change; inconstant; variable.

   unsettled weather.

   Synonyms: irresolute, fickle, vacillating

unsettled

/ ʌnˈsɛtəld /

adjective

1. lacking order or stability

   an unsettled era

2. unpredictable; uncertain

   an unsettled climate

3. constantly changing or moving from place to place

   an unsettled life

4. (of controversy, etc) not brought to an agreed conclusion

5. (of debts, law cases, etc) not disposed of

6. (of regions, etc) devoid of settlers

Other Word Forms

• unsettledness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unsettled¹

First recorded in 1585–95; un- ¹ + settle ¹ + -ed ²

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

The home remains unfinished and their lives unsettled.

From Los Angeles Times

At eight weeks, Molly's head was bigger than normal, she was unsettled and vomiting frequently, and her eyes would only look right - but the symptoms were dismissed by a paediatrician.

From BBC

They’ll still enter the playoffs in a somewhat unsettled place, needing to navigate around a struggling relief corps and overcome a hand injury to catcher Will Smith.

From Los Angeles Times

Darwin was right to be unsettled by the human version of the eye, but at least we can read them.

From Salon

But with a break still behind her, Kartal halted Shibahara's run with a hold to love that unsettled her opponent once more.

From BBC

Related Words

• agitated 
• changeable 
• changing www.thesaurus.com
• complicated 
• confused 
• disturbed 
• insecure 
• perilous 
• perturbed 
• precarious 
• rattled www.thesaurus.com
• restless 
• shaky 
• shifting www.thesaurus.com
• tense 
• ticklish 
• troubled www.thesaurus.com
• uncertain 
• uneasy 
• unnerved www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

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.