unsteady

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unsteady" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not stable or is prone to change, such as physical balance or emotional state. Example: "The unsteady boat rocked back and forth as the waves crashed against it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

He squints closer and closer to try to see the vein and with unsteady hands he tries several more times.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The mayor has come under withering criticism for her unsteady handling of the crisis and has at times appeared at odds with her own police commanders.

The Guardian

It was a prophetic choice: The Moment, by Margaret Atwood, which begins, "The moment when, after many years/ of hard work and a long voyage…" Distracted by the Ben Howard track playing in his ears, Mushy managed to read the verse, unsteady at first but building in confidence.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The party is opposed to more EU expansion "while the EU is still unsteady on its own feet", according to its candidate Roy Reding.

The Guardian

Perhaps that's the message we need to take away from today's result: none of us can occupy the unsteady moral high ground without looking down into the depths.

The Guardian - Opinion

Dance – as Merce Cunningham famously said – is not a profession for "unsteady souls".

The Guardian

Later, we collected our daughter from school a little unsteady and reeking of gin.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A little unsteady on his feet, the Ukip leader then rounded off the night with The Wild Rover outside on the pavement, as aides persuaded him that moving on to a nightclub or revisiting his teenage days of skinny-dipping were not sensible for a party leader two weeks before the most important election of his life.

The Guardian

Mr Sharif resisted the temptation to bring down Mr Zardari during his unsteady five years in power and today Mr Zardari is returning the favour.

The Economist

Economists have typically described the thought processes of homo sapiens as more like that of Star Trek's Mr Spock strictly logical, centred on a clearly defined goal and free from the unsteady influences of emotion or irrationality than the uncertain, error-prone groping with which most of us are familiar.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Ms Langhamer concedes that the trends she traces are winding and unsteady that caution was urged in the 1960s, just as emotional intimacy was sought in the 1920s.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts like economies or governments, use "unsteady" to convey a sense of instability and potential for collapse or failure. For example, "The unsteady economy struggled to recover after the recession."

Common error

Avoid using "unsteady" to describe movements that are deliberately uneven or asynchronous, such as in certain dance styles or athletic drills. "Unsteady" implies a lack of control, which is the opposite of intentional variation.

Linguistic Context

The word "unsteady" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a lack of physical stability or a tendency to fluctuate. As seen in Ludwig, it correctly describes something that isn't stable or is prone to change, whether it is physical balance or an emotional state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "unsteady" accurately describes a lack of physical or emotional stability. Ludwig AI confirms that it is indeed a correct and usable phrase in English, and the examples provided reveal its frequent use in news and media, as well as in science and encyclopedias. When looking for alternatives, consider words like "unstable", "wobbly", or "shaky", but be mindful of their subtle differences. Use "unsteady" to convey a sense of precariousness or fluctuation, and avoid using it to describe intentional asynchronous movements. As Ludwig AI demonstrates, "unsteady" is a versatile term for conveying instability in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unstable

Indicates a lack of stability and a tendency to collapse or fail, similar to "unsteady" but potentially more severe.

wobbly

Implies a shaking or rocking movement, often due to a lack of balance, closely related to "unsteady" in a physical sense.

shaky

Suggests trembling or unsteadiness, often due to nervousness or weakness, overlapping with "unsteady" in both physical and emotional contexts.

precarious

Highlights the riskiness or uncertainty of a situation, similar to "unsteady" in conveying a lack of security or stability.

rickety

Describes something poorly constructed or in disrepair, leading to instability, akin to "unsteady" in a structural sense.

tottering

Suggests a near-falling state, implying a high degree of unsteadiness, more severe than a slight wobble.

wavering

Implies hesitation or indecision, akin to "unsteady" when describing someone's resolve or commitment.

fluctuating

Indicates irregular variation, similar to "unsteady" when describing things that are not constant.

tenuous

Describes something fragile or weakly held, leading to instability, resembling "unsteady" in a metaphorical sense.

insecure

Signifies a lack of confidence or stability, mirroring "unsteady" in emotional or psychological contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "unsteady" in a sentence?

"Unsteady" can describe physical instability, as in "The table was "unsteady" and wobbled when touched", or a lack of emotional stability, such as "His "unsteady" behavior worried his friends".

What are some synonyms for "unsteady"?

Alternatives to "unsteady" include "unstable", "wobbly", "shaky", and "precarious". The best choice depends on the specific context and the type of unsteadiness you're describing.

Is it correct to say "unsteady state"?

The term "unsteady state" is less common than "unstable state", but it can be used to describe a condition that is fluctuating and not in equilibrium.

What's the difference between "unsteady" and "unstable"?

"Unsteady" suggests a lack of balance or firmness, while ""unstable"" implies a greater potential for collapse or failure. Something that is ""unsteady"" might simply wobble, but something ""unstable"" is more likely to fall apart.