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unsettled

[uhn-set-ld]
See more synonyms for unsettled on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. not settled; not fixed or stable; without established order; unorganized; disorganized: an unsettled social order; still unsettled in their new home.
  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.
  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.
  6. not adjusted, closed, or disposed of, as an account, estate, or law case.
  7. liable to change; inconstant; variable: unsettled weather.
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Origin of unsettled

First recorded in 1585–95; un-1 + settle1 + -ed2
Related formsun·set·tled·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for unsettled on Thesaurus.com
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. 5. indeterminate, unsure. 7. vacillating, fickle, faltering, irresolute.

Antonyms

1, 3. stable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unsettledness

Historical Examples

  • 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 would have been dismal to add idleness and unsettledness to the discouragement caused by such a beginning of our voyage.

  • To this the humane liberal retorts: The unsettledness of many is only your product, Philistine!

  • 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."

British Dictionary definitions for unsettledness

unsettled

adjective
  1. lacking order or stabilityan unsettled era
  2. unpredictable; uncertainan unsettled climate
  3. constantly changing or moving from place to placean 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
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Derived Formsunsettledness, 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