destabilising
|de-sta-bi-lis-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˌdiːˈsteɪbəˌlaɪzɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˌdiːˈsteɪb(ə)laɪzɪŋ/
(destabilise)
make unstable
Etymology
'destabilise' originates from modern English, formed by the prefix 'de-' (meaning 'remove' or 'reverse') + 'stabilise', where 'stabilise' ultimately comes from Latin 'stabilis' meaning 'stable'.
'destabilise' is modeled on French 'déstabiliser' (19th century) and English 'stabilize/stabilise' (from Latin via Old French); the English verb 'destabilize/destabilise' became established in the 19th–20th centuries.
Initially formed to mean 'to remove stability' or 'to make unstable'; over time it has retained this basic meaning of 'make less stable' and is used in political, economic, technical, and social contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present participle or gerund form of 'destabilise' (to make something unstable).
The policy was criticised for destabilising local markets.
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Adjective 1
causing or likely to cause instability; producing disorder or uncertainty.
A destabilising effect on investor confidence can slow economic recovery.
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Last updated: 2025/10/24 17:04