unsettled

[ uhn-set-ld ]

/ ʌnˈsɛt ld /

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adjective

not settled; not fixed or stable; without established order; unorganized; disorganized: an unsettled social order; still unsettled in their new home.

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.

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.

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

liable to change; inconstant; variable: unsettled weather.

OTHER WORDS FOR unsettled

5 indeterminate, unsure.

7 vacillating, fickle, faltering, irresolute.

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OPPOSITES FOR unsettled

1, 3 stable.

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Origin of unsettled

First recorded in 1585–95; un-¹ + settle¹ + -ed²

synonym study for unsettled

3. 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 WORDS FROM unsettled

un·set·tled·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use unsettled in a sentence

But the repose he sought he scarce for an hour realized.-36- Undreamed-of turmoil kept him in a whirl of unsettledness.
Literary New York|Charles Hemstreet
It is, however, an unsettledness very unlike that of the earlier time.
Change in the Village|(AKA George Bourne) George Sturt
In the language of the clergy of the time, she "had a degree of unsettledness and defect of understanding."
The Little Manx Nation - 1891|Hall Caine
It would have been dismal to add idleness and unsettledness to the discouragement caused by such a beginning of our voyage.
Retrospect of Western Travel, Volume I (of 2)|Harriet Martineau

To this the humane liberal retorts: The unsettledness of many is only your product, Philistine!
The Ego and His Own|Max Stirner

British Dictionary definitions for unsettled

unsettled

/ (ʌnˈsɛtəld) /

adjective

lacking order or stabilityan unsettled era

unpredictable; uncertainan unsettled climate

constantly changing or moving from place to placean 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

Derived forms of unsettled

unsettledness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

unsettled

OTHER WORDS FOR unsettled

OPPOSITES FOR unsettled

Origin of unsettled

synonym study for unsettled

OTHER WORDS FROM unsettled

Words related to unsettled

How to use unsettled in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for unsettled

Derived forms of unsettled