as in erratic
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
I wouldn't count on him to show up for the play—he's pretty unreliable. She drives her car locally, but worries it's too unreliable for longer trips.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unreliable
If someone does end up getting one of these other tests, the results might be unreliable, or they might be taken out of context when the patient tries to interpret them, experts said.
—
Kristen Fischer, Health, 14 Mar. 2025
Right now, these sources contribute only 12% of the state’s energy, yet radical policies continue forcing an unreliable, unaffordable and unachievable increase in wind and solar.
—Kathy Szeliga, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2025
Weldon has also shared unreliable claims about reproductive health.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
In a press briefing, the NTSB shared the investigation's initial findings on potential unreliable data recording and an Air Traffic Control communications issue that led to the crash.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Kristen Fischer, Health, 14 Mar. 2025
Right now, these sources contribute only 12% of the state’s energy, yet radical policies continue forcing an unreliable, unaffordable and unachievable increase in wind and solar.
—Kathy Szeliga, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2025
Weldon has also shared unreliable claims about reproductive health.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
In a press briefing, the NTSB shared the investigation's initial findings on potential unreliable data recording and an Air Traffic Control communications issue that led to the crash.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
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So there’s always these really erratic twists and turns.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
4 Apr. 2025
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Lawsuits and interviews The Times conducted with nearly a dozen individuals with knowledge of the academy provide a fresh glimpse into the extraordinary dysfunction inside Donda and the erratic behavior of its controversial founder.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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With the curtain soon to go up on CinemaCon, and as theaters look to add more lucrative premium formats in a still shaky market, AMC Entertainment and CJ 4DPLEX have partnered on 65 premium ScreenX and 4DX locations worldwide.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2025
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Kentucky The Wildcats parted ways with one of the best coaches of all time last season, hired an alum with a shaky resume, turned over an entire roster and managed to make the Sweet 16 after all of it thanks to a rock-solid win over Illinois yesterday.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But without a strong messaging foundation, those pieces can feel scattered, inconsistent, or even contradictory.—
Rhea Wessel,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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His current form may be inconsistent at best, but Finau believes the best results of his career are still ahead of him.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But while the stock market is often a fickle friend, as are commodities such as oil and natural gas, wheat and corn, part of what was so shocking in 2022 was the simultaneous slump in government and corporate bonds, which proved as undependable as stocks.—
,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2025
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Food, water and other resources would have to be shipped from home, at distances that make the supply frighteningly undependable.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Given the political indiscretions and untrustworthy reputation of his then-opponent James G. Blaine, Cleveland was still successfully elected to the White House, becoming the 22nd president and the first Democrat elected after the Civil War.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
20 Jan. 2025
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Palmer plays Dreux, a Los Angeles waitress who, when her artist roommate Alyssa (SZA) gives their rent money to an untrustworthy boyfriend, Keshawn (Joshua David Neal), goes on a madcap, day-long odyssey to raise the money before they’re evicted.—
Jake Coyle,
Boston Herald,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Of course, politics is unpredictable, and his message could, in theory, have more resonance with Democratic primary voters this time around.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
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Towards the end of the first decade of the century, the Nike Total 90 range was incredibly unpredictable in the air.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In Haiti, there hasn’t been a general election in nearly a decade; more than a million have been displaced by armed gang violence and the country’s volatile capital is on the verge of collapse.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
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Listen to this article For about nine minutes, Tiara Lee-Roberts and her girlfriend had a volatile argument on the 69th Street Red Line platform, prosecutors alleged, until Lee-Roberts put a gun to the woman’s neck and shot her.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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If someone is making credible threats or is mentally unstable, existing laws already allow for arrests, mental health evaluations, and emergency detentions—all of which come with constitutional safeguards.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
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This unstable dwelling, with its crumbling walls and lack of proper bedrooms for the children, comes to stand for a far more sinister lack of boundaries.—
Leslie Camhi,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
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