emotionally unstable (english) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Adjective

Phonetic Transcription

/ɪˈmoʊʃənəli ʌnˈsteɪbəl/

Meaning and Usage

The term "emotionally unstable" refers to an individual's tendency to experience unpredictable and intense emotional responses. Such persons may struggle with mood swings, anxiety, or depression. The phrase is commonly used in both clinical contexts (e.g., discussing mental health issues) and in everyday conversation to describe someone who frequently changes their emotional state.

Frequency of Use

"Emotionally unstable" is used frequently in psychological discourse and informal conversation, though it may appear more often in written contexts, such as articles or essays about mental health.

Examples

1. He has been emotionally unstable since the breakup with his girlfriend.

2. Él ha estado emocionalmente inestable desde la ruptura con su novia.

3. It's important to seek help if you feel emotionally unstable.

4. Es importante buscar ayuda si te sientes emocionalmente inestable.

5. Her emotionally unstable behavior worried her friends.

6. Su comportamiento emocionalmente inestable preocupaba a sus amigos.

Idiomatic Expressions

While "emotionally unstable" doesn’t have specific idiomatic expressions, it fits within several related idioms that express emotional turmoil or instability. Here are some examples:

1. "On an emotional rollercoaster"
2. She has been on an emotional rollercoaster since she lost her job.

3. Ella ha estado en una montaña rusa emocional desde que perdió su trabajo.

4. "Walking on eggshells"

5. When she's upset, we feel like we're walking on eggshells around her.

6. Cuando ella está molesta, sentimos que estamos caminando sobre cáscaras de huevo a su alrededor.

7. "A bundle of nerves"

8. He was a bundle of nerves before his exam, which made him emotionally unstable.

9. Él era un manojo de nervios antes de su examen, lo que lo hizo emocionalmente inestable.

10. "In a state of flux"

11. After the incident, she remained in a state of flux, emotionally unstable and uncertain.

12. Después del incidente, ella permaneció en un estado de cambio, emocionalmente inestable e incierta.

13. "Like a house of cards"

14. As her emotional issues mounted, her life felt like a house of cards, ready to collapse at any moment.
15. A medida que sus problemas emocionales aumentaron, su vida se sentía como un castillo de naipes, listo para colapsar en cualquier momento.

Etymology

The term "emotionally" is derived from "emotion," which comes from the French word "émouvoir," meaning "to move." The word "unstable" comes from the Latin "instabilis," where "in-" means "not" and "stabilis" means "stable." The combination highlights an absence of emotional stability.

Synonyms

• Emotionally volatile
• Emotionally erratic
• Mood swings

Antonyms

• Emotionally stable
• Emotionally secure
• Emotionally resilient