erratic

adjective

i-ˈra-tik How to pronounce erratic (audio)
Definition of erraticnext
1
as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern so far your effort to land a summer job has been very erratic

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence because of your erratic attendance at practice, you're in danger of being cut from the team

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in changing
not staying constant business at the fast-food restaurant has been so erratic lately that the manager never knows how much staff to have on hand

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4
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion the animal's erratic behavior made her wonder if it was ill

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word erratic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of erratic are eccentric, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is eccentric a more appropriate choice than erratic?

The words eccentric and erratic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When can odd be used instead of erratic?

The meanings of odd and erratic largely overlap; however, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When could outlandish be used to replace erratic?

The words outlandish and erratic can be used in similar contexts, but outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

Where would peculiar be a reasonable alternative to erratic?

Although the words peculiar and erratic have much in common, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

In what contexts can quaint take the place of erratic?

While in some cases nearly identical to erratic, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When might singular be a better fit than erratic?

In some situations, the words singular and erratic are roughly equivalent. However, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When would strange be a good substitute for erratic?

While the synonyms strange and erratic are close in meaning, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When is it sensible to use unique instead of erratic?

The synonyms unique and erratic are sometimes interchangeable, but unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of erratic For the past two seasons, Gabriel Jesus’s erratic fitness has left a gaping hole in the forward line that has never been convincingly filled. —Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025 Tate is erratic, manipulative, and obsessed with dominance. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2025 These large waves can be erratic and unpredictable. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025 The two-track body of work boasts snakey slithering synths, explosive drops, effervescent sounds, hard-hitting tunes, hypnotic soundscapes and erratic beats that build up into a crescendo followed by techno designed to ignite the dance floor. —Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for erratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erratic
  1. random
  2. sporadic
  3. bizarre
  4. occasional
  5. uneven
  6. strange
  7. arbitrary
  8. intermittent
Adjective
  • And as for the new show, the contestants are no longer random.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
  • As such, The Studio is shrill and talky, its chaotic scenes sparked by random performers like Charlize Theron, Zac Efron, Olivia Wilde and Sarah Polley, all of whom want something from Remick.
    — Peter Bart, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of random
Adjective
  • During her active years with WWE, which spanned from 2006 to her initial departure in 2012 and included subsequent sporadic returns for special appearances, Kelly Kelly achieved a significant milestone by capturing the WWE Divas Championship.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • These societies could survive without the sporadic acquisition of meat, anthropologists note.
    — Amanda Ruggeri, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of sporadic
Adjective
  • The bizarre purchase was revealed last year by the former Lakers player, and the topic was recently brought up during the season 6 finale of The Kardashians.
    — Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Weezer has not canceled its plans to perform at Coachella this Saturday (April 12) after the wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner sustained non-life-threatening injuries during a bizarre run-in with Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers that ended in a dramatic shootout.
    — Dave Brooks, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • The show is thrilling as a sensory experience, humming with sinister percussive beats and the occasional muffled animal squawk in the distance.
    — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Initially, MacGregor's character was supposed to make only occasional appearances, but she was promoted to series regular after her performance was so well-received.
    — Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of occasional
Adjective
  • The airflow also seemed uneven, requiring trays to be rotated during the dehydrating process.
    — Jordan Liberty Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
  • After running out of steam with the uneven 1992 sister albums Lucky Town and Human Touch, Springsteen spent most of the decade raising his kids and tentatively circling a reunion with the E Street Band while searching for new directions.
    — Ryan Leas, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • Republicans should also get over their strange allergy to cutting the capital gains tax.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The unique role required a performer who could pass as young as age 7 and as old as 22 — a strange consequence of the real case that inspired the series.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Too many leaders seek to lead down by being authoritative, by pushing dictates on people and relentlessly driving forward toward arbitrary goals and deadlines.
    — Andrew Deutscher, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The responses, submitted by a fairly arbitrary group of women, range from profound to half-hearted.
    — Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of arbitrary
Adjective
  • During intermittent periods for minutes at a time, the NYPD and MTAPD strategically closed certain doors temporarily out of the hundreds of doors throughout the terminal to prevent additional demonstrators from entering.
    — Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Invisible geckos belt out intermittent clicks from the foliage, as brown pelicans sweep lazily across the sky, patrolling the shoreline for their daily fill.
    — Ashlee Marie Preston, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of intermittent

Browse Nearby Words

errant
erratic
erratically
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Cite this Entry

“Erratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erratic. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on erratic

Nglish: Translation of erratic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about erratic

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