...unpopular policies, which resulted in social discontent and political instability.
...Caligula's inherent mental instability.
The length of the fuselage was increased due to a degree of directional instability.
Synonyms: imbalance, weakness, volatility, variability More Synonyms of instability
More Synonyms of instability
instability in British English
(ˌɪnstəˈbɪlɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
lack of stability or steadiness
2.
tendency to variable or unpredictable behaviour
3. physics
a fast-growing disturbance or wave in a plasma
instability in American English
(ˌɪnstəˈbɪləti)
noun
1.
lack of stability; unstableness
; specif.,
a.
lack of firmness or steadiness
b.
lack of determination; irresolution
2.
tendency to behave or react violently or erratically
the instability of a chemical compound, emotional instability
COBUILD Collocations
instability
political instability
Examples of 'instability' in a sentence
instability
That’s especially the case when art is swept up in war or political instability.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
As night follows day, political instability will be the norm.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What better proof of mental and emotional instability?
Jackson, Rosie Mothers who Leave (1994)
Now he must go and a period of instability and uncertainty will follow.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It was a time of chronic instability and political danger.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Researchers said economic instability and the growth of university education had caused the delay of personal plans.
The Sun (2011)
That is likely to spark financial instability anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The film works best at these moments of mental instability.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Political instability breeds economic and business uncertainty.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Nor would the tax correct risky behaviour and financial instability.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
His mental instability is a factor here.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In the short term, political instability can be very uncomfortable.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In the face of political instability Poland made steady progress restructuring her economy.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
Oh, and there would probably be a period of economic instability if we left.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What people want in a period of financial instability is certainty, not fiddling.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
At the same time, supply constraints bit because of war and political instability.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
How much social instability would it take before people would renounce their liberties in a trade-off for safety?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This brings us to the second reason for the inherent instability of the financial system: human behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I think we are in for a period of uncertainty and instability.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That instability and uncertainty persist.
Hirst, Paul After Thatcher (1989)
Will there be an economic hard landing, malignant inflation, or social instability?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But the hard fact is that financial services companies, because of their inherent instability and theirutter dependence on client confidence, are a special case.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
instability
British English: instability /ˌɪnstəˈbɪlɪtɪ/ NOUN
Instability is a lack of stability in a place, situation, or person.