instability
/ˌɪnstəˈbɪləti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnstəˈbɪləti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē/ (ame, mw)
instability — noun
1. a condition in which a system, situation, or set of conditions is not secure or
a condition in which a system, situation, or set of conditions is not secure or steady and could change or fail at any time
Political instability in the country made Ishaan's family think about moving away.
collocation: political instability
When the economy showed signs of instability, Quan decided to save more money.
Years of government instability caused the number of tourists to drop sharply.
After many months of political instability, the president promised new reforms to help the economy.
Nia worried that the growing instability would hurt her small shop.
- uncertainty
broader term — can refer to a mental state of doubt, not just an external condition prone to change
- volatility
more dramatic and intense; often implies rapid and extreme swings, especially in markets or prices
- insecurity
focuses on the feeling of being unsafe or at risk rather than on the condition itself
文法句型
adjective + instability
instability + in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used with adjectives that describe the area affected by instability, such as political, economic, financial, or social. Frequent verb partners include cause, create, lead to, and face.
常見錯誤
2. a condition in which a person's moods, emotions, or behaviour changes rapidly an
a condition in which a person's moods, emotions, or behaviour changes rapidly and unpredictably, making their mental state feel unsteady
The doctor explained that Marco's mood instability needed careful treatment.
collocation: mood instability
Sumin struggled with emotional instability after losing her job last year.
Years of mental instability left Gabriel's family unsure how to help him.
The school counselor noticed early signs of emotional instability in a student.
Adina's family struggled to cope with her mother's emotional instability after the divorce.
- unpredictability
focuses on the outcome (you cannot predict how the person will react) rather than the internal state
- volatility
more dramatic; suggests intense and explosive emotional swings
- unsteadiness
more physical in origin, but can also describe a shaky or fragile emotional state
文法句型
adjective + instability
instability + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often modified by adjectives such as emotional, mental, mood, or psychological. Used in both clinical settings and everyday contexts to describe patterns of unpredictable emotional reactions.