inconsistent
adjective
in·con·sis·tent
ˌin-kən-ˈsi-stənt 
: lacking consistency: such as
a
: not compatible with another fact or claim
inconsistent statements
b
: containing incompatible elements
an inconsistent argument
The decision was inconsistent with company policy.
c
: incoherent or illogical in thought or actions : not always acting or happening the same way
His pitching has been inconsistent this season.
The pain is inconsistent.
d
: not satisfiable by the same set of values for the unknowns
inconsistent equations
inconsistent inequalities
inconsistently
adverb
Examples of inconsistent in a Sentence
Customers have been complaining about the inconsistent service they have received.
The pain has been inconsistent.
Her grades have been inconsistent this school year.
Their descriptions of the accident were inconsistent.
The results of the two experiments were inconsistent.
The decision was inconsistent with the company's policy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Animal and infant studies published in Nutrition Research Reviews suggest that the way these fats are structured can affect how the body digests them and processes cholesterol, while adult studies have shown inconsistent results that appear to depend on the type of fat and how much people consume.
—
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The only realistic possibility would arise from the Big Bang itself, and Weber’s claimed detections would again be internally inconsistent with how much of a gravitational wave signal could have been generated in those early cosmic stages.
—Big Think, 7 Nov. 2025
The agency's number is inconsistent with other news reports, NPR's prior reporting and the union.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
On that day and in coming interactions, according to the logs and the lawsuit, the chatbot offered an inconsistent response.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inconsistent
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Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The only realistic possibility would arise from the Big Bang itself, and Weber’s claimed detections would again be internally inconsistent with how much of a gravitational wave signal could have been generated in those early cosmic stages.
—Big Think, 7 Nov. 2025
The agency's number is inconsistent with other news reports, NPR's prior reporting and the union.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
On that day and in coming interactions, according to the logs and the lawsuit, the chatbot offered an inconsistent response.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inconsistent
Cite this Entry
“Inconsistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inconsistent. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inconsistent
adjective
in·con·sis·tent
ˌin-kən-ˈsis-tənt
1
: not being in agreement or harmony : incompatible
an explanation inconsistent with the facts
2
: not logical or regular in thought or actions : changeable
a very inconsistent person
inconsistently
adverb
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