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   in·sta·bil·i·ty

   /ˌinstəˈbilədē/

   noun

   • 1. lack of stability; the state of being unstable: "political and economic instability" Similar unreliabilityuncertaintyunpredictabilityunpredictablenessprecariousnessunsteadinessinsecurityvulnerabilityperilousnessriskinessimpermanencetemporarinesstransienceinconstancychangeabilityvariabilityfluidityfluctuationrise and fallrising and fallinginformal:chancinessiffinessdodginessliterary:mutabilityunsteadinessunsoundnessshakinessricketinesswobblinessfrailtyfragilityflimsinessinsubstantialityOpposite stabilitystabilitysoundness
   • ▪ tendency to unpredictable behavior or erratic changes of mood: "she showed increasing signs of mental instability" Similar changeablenessvariabilitycapriciousnessvolatilityflightinessfitfulnessvacillationoscillationunpredictabilityunpredictablenessmoodinessa tendency to blow hot and coldunsoundnessfrailtyinfirmityweaknessirregularityabnormalityrare:erraticismOpposite stability

   Word Origin late Middle English: from French instabilité, from Latin instabilitas, from instabilis, from in- ‘not’ + stabilis (see stable1).

   Scrabble Points: 16

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