verb
destabilize
dee-STAY-bih-lyz
Destabilize (verb) means to make something, especially a government or region, unstable or unsettled. Example: “The coup attempted to destabilize the region.”
verb
1
To make something, especially a government or region, unstable or unsettled.
"As part of its application, Macy's submitted "balloon control plans" describing how handlers, under the direction of a "pilot," were to navigate through intersections, where crosswinds can destabilize the balloons."
— Sewell Chan, Site of Balloon Accident Is Known for Its Crosswinds (2005)
"The coup attempted to destabilize the region."
"Fake news can destabilize public trust in institutions."
"When the buoyancy destabilizes the flow, it alters the electroconvective patterns by introducing upward and downward fingers of respectively light and heavy fluid."
— Elif Karatay, On the coupling between buoyancy forces and electroconvective instability near ion-selective surfaces (2016)
"When the price of Luna plummeted in May, TerraUSD fell in tandem — a “death spiral” that destabilized the broader market and plunged some investors into financial ruin."
— David Yaffe-Bellany, ‘The Music Has Stopped’: Crypto Firms Quake as Prices Fall (2022)
How to use destabilize
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo upset the balance or stability of something, often a government, economy, or situation.
Common pairings
destabilize the region
destabilize a government
politically destabilizing
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- destabilizes
- Past tense
- destabilized
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The coup attempted to _____ the region.
Etymology
From de- ("reverse of") plus stabilize.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for destabilize
See all rhymes for destabilize →Frequently asked questions
What does “destabilize” mean?
The word “destabilize” means to make something, especially a government or region, unstable or unsettled. In plain terms, to upset the balance or stability of something, often a government, economy, or situation.
How do you pronounce “destabilize”?
“Destabilize” is pronounced dee-STAY-bih-lyz (/diːˈsteɪbɪlaɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “destabilize” in a sentence?
Here is “destabilize” used in a sentence: “The coup attempted to destabilize the region.”
What part of speech is “destabilize”?
“Destabilize” is a verb.
