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

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

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

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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

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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

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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
Boston is likely to kick off the next week with heavy rains on Monday before a single bright spot Tuesday is followed by more potentially unsettled days close out the week, according to National Weather Service forecasts. — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 2 Aug. 2026 As hundreds of exhausted migrants head back to Morocco and others vow to stay, residents describe a city upended by clashes, military deployments and a deeply unsettled border. — Sergio Rodrigo Ruíz, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
In reality, the situation in Indiana is completely unsettled, and White was reminded of that on Tuesday night when some fans booed her during pregame introductions ahead of the Fever's home contest against the New York Liberty. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 The barrage has caused fuel shortages in Russia, eaten into Russian refining capacity, and unsettled the Russian public. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 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
  • The man had been shot during a volatile time in the city, and the disposal of his body appears to have been planned.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Sandisk showcased its BiCS8 and BiCS10 NAND technologies and highlighted HBF's potential to provide high-capacity, high-performance non-volatile storage, supplementing or replacing HBM.
    — Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • Our full story covers some more troubling financial updates, too, including unpaid bills.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • More than 80% of camera citations issued to vehicles with Virginia tags in 2024 also remain unpaid.
    — Tara Lynch, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpaid
Adjective
  • Roughly 120 copyright suits against AI developers remain pending, and several could produce a rule that contradicts this one.
    — TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Turner was out of jail while facing two separate armed robbery cases that remain pending, according to court records.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of pending
Adjective
  • The titular gang comprises Mac (McElhenney), a closeted wannabe tough guy; the narcissistic prepster Dennis (Glenn Howerton); Dennis’s chronically unsure fraternal twin, Dee (Kaitlin Olson); and the bar’s buffoonish janitor, Charlie (Charlie Day).
    — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Still, stakeholders are unsure what effects a veto override will have.
    — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsure
Verb
  • Peonies don’t like to be disturbed and may not bloom the next year, but division is sometimes necessary.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The study hypothesized that the sickle was added before the body fully decomposed since no joints were detached or displaced, as archaeologists would expect if a grave were to be disturbed after the body became a skeleton.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbed
Adjective
  • Klayton Adams wants his offense to be creative and complex, physical and unpredictable, to break rules but still feel realistic.
    — Jon Machota, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Later, the Moon opposes unpredictable Uranus, shifting schedules, conversations, or logistics.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • His work there earned him a nomination for his first Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding guest actor in a drama series.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Logan Henderson, an outstanding rookie pitcher the Brewers chose to keep rather than including in a trade last month, outdueled Skubal in Sunday’s series finale at Los Angeles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • The paper’s authors noted a handful of liability, reimbursement and regulatory hurdles remain unresolved and, as of now, won’t allow for non-human-doctors to administer care on their own.
    — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Strategists warn that rock-bottom volatility, fresh stock market all-time highs and unresolved geopolitical risks are converging just as markets enter the historically stormy mid-August-to-mid-October stretch.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of unresolved

Browse Nearby Words

unsettle
unsettled
unsettledness
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Cite this Entry

“Unsettled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsettled. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of unsettled for Spanish Speakers

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