unsure

adjective

ˌən-ˈshu̇r How to pronounce unsure (audio)
Definition of unsurenext
as in skeptical
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something unsure of her ability to handle the pressure of competing in the Olympic Games

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 unsure Victims’ families and experts are unsure the higher amounts will be enough to get tipsters to come forward, citing people's fears and distrust of the federal government. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Victims’ families and experts are unsure the higher amounts will be enough to get tipsters to come forward, citing people’s fears and distrust of the federal government. — Sarah Raza, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Experts are unsure if voter fatigue will lead to low turnout for the third Republican primary in two months. — Terry Collins, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 That’s made the industry one of the most visible examples of how China’s breakneck AI transformation is impacting people’s livelihoods — wiping out jobs and creating new ones, leaving everyone unsure what’s next. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsure
  1. skeptical
  2. suspicious
  3. uncertain
  4. doubtful
Adjective
  • And given their preference for rocky environments over sandy lagoons and the crabs’ reproductive prowess, fishermen and experts alike are skeptical.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The early sales reps who thrived on instinct and relationships start selling into a market that’s crowded, educated and skeptical.
    — Doug May, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of skeptical
Adjective
  • Glendale police received multiple calls about a suspicious male adult, with officers first responding to a retail store in the 1500 block of Glenoaks Boulevard.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • By the time something appears suspicious, causality is fragmented across systems, logs and identities.
    — Brian Contos, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of suspicious
Adjective
  • What remains uncertain is how damaging the resolution will be—and for whom.
    — MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • When markets are uncertain about how central bankers will respond to incoming data, speculation can fill the void, according to a Barclays report last month.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of uncertain
Adjective
  • Even if temperatures were to sharply drop, the recovery of most corals is doubtful.
    — Peter Prengaman, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • For much of last year, Head Start, the federal program that provides child-care and preschool services for low-income families, appeared to have a doubtful future.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of doubtful

Browse Nearby Words

unsupported
unsure
unsurpassable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsure. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
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
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All