unsteadiest
Least stable now
Unsteadiest is the superlative form of unsteady—the most shaky, wobbly, or unstable among a group.
It describes whatever is least stable or most prone to wavering: the unsteadiest ladder in the shed, the unsteadiest hands at the operating table.
The word applies to physical balance, emotional states, or anything lacking firmness.
Moving unsteadily, nearly falling
- teeteringUnstably balanced, nearly falling
- shakyTrembling or unstable
- rockingOscillating on curved base
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
quivering · trembling · staggering · lurching · faltering · reeling · bobbing · quaking
Prone to fluctuation
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- changeableCapable of alteration
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
wavering · vacillating · oscillating · mercurial · unpredictable · inconstant · fitful · irregular
tottering
Moving unsteadily, nearly falling
- teeteringUnstably balanced, nearly falling
- shakyTrembling or unstable
- rockingOscillating on curved base
swaying · quivering · trembling · staggering · lurching · faltering · reeling · bobbing · quaking · jiggling
variable
Prone to fluctuation
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- changeableCapable of alteration
inconsistent · wavering · vacillating · oscillating · mercurial · unpredictable · inconstant · fitful · irregular · unreliable
shaky
Trembling or unstable
uncertain · hesitant · faltering · quavering · unsure · tentative · doubtful · apprehensive · timid · wavering
bumpy
Uneven in surface
lopsided · patchy · asymmetrical · unequal · disproportionate · skewed · rutted · pitted · cratered · potholed