What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
instable
Example
The political climate in the country is quite instable at the moment. [instable: adjective]
Example
She's been feeling quite instable lately, with her moods fluctuating frequently. [instable: adjective]
Example
The stack of books on the table looked quite instable and likely to topple over. [instable: adjective]
unstable
Example
The economy has been quite unstable for the past few years. [unstable: adjective]
Example
He's been acting quite unstable lately, with his behavior becoming increasingly erratic. [unstable: adjective]
Example
The chair was so unstable that it collapsed when I sat on it. [unstable: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unstable is more commonly used than instable in everyday language. Unstable is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while instable is less common and is often used in specific contexts such as politics or science.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between instable and unstable?
Both instable and unstable are generally considered formal words, but instable may be slightly more formal due to its less common usage and specific contexts.
