unsteady

American  

[uhn-sted-ee] / ʌnˈstɛd i /

adjective

1. not steady or firm; unstable; shaky.

   an unsteady hand.

2. fluctuating or wavering.

   an unsteady flame; unsteady prices.

   Synonyms:

   vacillating

3. irregular or uneven.

   an unsteady development.

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verb (used with object)

unsteadied, unsteadying

1. to make unsteady.

unsteady British  

/ ʌnˈstɛdɪ /

adjective

1. not securely fixed

   an unsteady foothold

2. (of behaviour, etc) lacking constancy; erratic

3. without regularity

   an unsteady rhythm

4. (of a manner of walking, etc) precarious, staggering, as from intoxication

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verb

1. (tr) to make unsteady

Related Words

See unsettled.

Other Word Forms

• unsteadily adverb
• unsteadiness noun

Etymology

Origin of unsteady

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

Example Sentences

Damage in this area can trigger tremors, unsteady motion, and difficulty controlling muscles.

From Science Daily

Hoover, unsteady in the early going, gets better as the production settles into a groove.

From Los Angeles Times

In the weeks that followed, Bass was unsteady in her public appearances and at odds with her fire chief, whom she ultimately dismissed.

From Los Angeles Times

When she returned, she was unsteady in her handling of questions surrounding the emergency response.

From Los Angeles Times

A regular runner before, he felt unsteady on his feet, and on one occasion he tripped and broke his ankle.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• erratic
• groggy
• precarious
• rickety
• rocky
• unstable
• wobbly