adjective
labile
LAY-byle/ˈleɪˌbaɪl/
Unstable or likely to change quickly.
The labile mobile changes position under the woman's gentle breath.
Etymology
Latin labilis conveys instability through the image of slipping or sliding. Something labile does not stay fixed in its condition, so it can change readily.
In context
we're suffering from disorientation fourth we have these wildly fluctuating emotions something think that's psychiatrists called being affectively labile
More examples
- The compound is labile and breaks down when heated.
- His blood pressure remains labile during recovery.
- Stress can make her emotions more labile.
Forms
labile
lability noun — The tendency to change or fluctuate quickly.
Similar words
- unstable
- Broader term for lacking steadiness, not necessarily changing rapidly.
- volatile
- Often suggests sudden, intense, or potentially dangerous changes.
- changeable
- Emphasizes readiness to change without necessarily suggesting instability.