unsettled 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-ˈse-tᵊld How to pronounce unsettled (audio)
Definition of unsettlednext
1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly we've been having a lot of unsettled weather lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unpaid
not yet paid I keep unsettled bills next to the checkbook

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pending
not yet settled or decided we can't move on as long as this important question remains unsettled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something I'm still unsettled about whether I should take that job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unsettled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of unsettle
as in disturbed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unsettled
Adjective
The group of wings felt so unsettled late into the offseason that the Lakers were among the final teams willing to wait out the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Measurement remains unsettled, since much of the data on AI discoverability comes from vendors that sell discoverability tools, and independent benchmarks have yet to emerge. — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
And with the Yankees’ future at second base very much unsettled, that ride might not be over. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 All this solar weather will keep conditions unsettled to active over the next few days. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsettled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsettled
  1. volatile
  2. unpaid
  3. pending
  4. unsure
  5. disturbed
  6. unpredictable
  7. outstanding
  8. unresolved
Adjective
  • Together, the tools could help accelerate the development of more resilient electric motor systems while reducing the risks associated with critical material shortages, volatile supply chains and rapidly changing global markets.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Daily crude flows are very volatile, with only 3 million barrels of crude transiting Hormuz on Monday while 6 million barrels passed through the strait on Friday, according to Kpler.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • The elder O’Neal joined the program himself as its general manager in an unpaid, voluntary role, The Athletic reported.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The 2024 report found the city court had issued arrest warrants for more than 650 people, roughly half of Lexington’s population, for unpaid fines.
    — Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpaid
Adjective
  • Dozens of lawsuits remain pending, including claims related to the handling of mass pro-immigration protests since last year, probably putting taxpayers on the hook for more large payouts in the future.
    — Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Those tax charges, involving Rivera’s 2017 and 2018 returns, remain pending.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of pending
Adjective
  • Residents said most of the children killed lived in the Dir Colony neighborhood, where the school is located, leaving them unsure which bereaved family to visit first to offer condolences.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Hujar is unsure of his prospects, curious where his talent and ambition might lead, embedded in a community that may or may not take him there.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsure
Verb
  • As one of the most effective natural sinks for carbon, peatlands could accelerate climate change if disturbed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • She was especially disturbed by the emotional vulnerability that someone could exploit when a person believes a relationship is genuine.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbed
Adjective
  • Jeff Shields, a spokesperson for PJM, said electricity demand is growing faster than new generating capacity can come online, while unpredictable weather is leaving fewer opportunities for critical maintenance and construction.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Loos, who was thirty-one, was known to express displeasure in hot and angry bursts and could be unpredictable.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • The award, which was established by the city of Naperville in 1993, recognizes Naperville-area students for outstanding community service.
    — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • There is no court date scheduled for Wang appearing because there is still an outstanding warrant, a circuit court spokesperson said.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • What matters is the leader’s ability to stay with an unresolved problem, listening and exploring alongside the team, without filling every moment of silence.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Other unresolved questions have little to do with outside consulting firms.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of unresolved

Browse Nearby Words

unsettle
unsettled
unsettledness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsettled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettled. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All