unsettled

1 of 2

adjective

un·​set·​tled ˌən-ˈse-tᵊld How to pronounce unsettled (audio)
Synonyms of unsettlednext
: not settled: such as
a(1)
: not calm or tranquil : disturbed
unsettled political conditions
(2)
: likely to vary widely especially in the near future : variable
unsettled weather
(3)
: not settled down
unsettled dust
b(1)
: not decided or determined : doubtful
an unsettled state of mind
(2)
: not resolved or worked out : undecided
an unsettled question
c
: characterized by irregularity
an unsettled life
d
: not inhabited or populated
unsettled land
e
: not mentally sound
f(1)
: not disposed of according to law
an unsettled estate
(2)
: not paid or discharged
unsettled debts
unsettledness
ˌən-ˈse-tᵊl(d)-nəs How to pronounce unsettled (audio)
noun

unsettled

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of unsettle

Synonyms of unsettled

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Adjective

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Examples of unsettled in a Sentence

Adjective We have some unsettled business to attend to. we've been having a lot of unsettled weather lately
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The oil-rich Abyei region’s status was left unresolved by a 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of civil war and remained unsettled when South Sudan became independent in 2011. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 Good thing about that wall, because with this unsettled bunch, there will be plenty of them. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 Warm, humid and unsettled weather returns next week A gradual warming trend gets underway as early as Sunday afternoon with highs reaching into the middle and upper 70s. — Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 16 Oct. 2026 The opening-night depth chart remains unsettled, and Brown’s return will make the competition more complicated. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsettled

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsettled was in 1550

Rhymes for unsettled

See All Rhymes for unsettled

Browse Nearby Words

unsettle
unsettled
unsettlement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsettled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsettled. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unsettled

adjective
un·​set·​tled ˌən-ˈset-ᵊld How to pronounce unsettled (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not settled : not fixed (as in position or nature)
unsettled weather
2
: not calm : disturbed
unsettled waters
3
: not decided in mind : undetermined
unsettled about what to do
4
: not paid
an unsettled account
5
: not lived in by settlers
an unsettled region
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