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
c
: incoherent or illogical in thought or actions : changeable
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
Doctors struggle to access complete patient histories, researchers spend months cleaning inconsistent datasets, and hospitals face spiraling costs just to keep outdated systems running.
—
Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The team behind the Price Tracker opted to focus on the 100 largest metro areas because some data for smaller localities is inconsistent.
—ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
Years of mergers, cloud migrations and siloed operations have scattered information across countless systems with inconsistent definitions and unclear ownership.
—Jay Limburn, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In his third season, the always-inconsistent Volpe has been flat-out bad.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inconsistent
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Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The team behind the Price Tracker opted to focus on the 100 largest metro areas because some data for smaller localities is inconsistent.
—ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
Years of mergers, cloud migrations and siloed operations have scattered information across countless systems with inconsistent definitions and unclear ownership.
—Jay Limburn, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In his third season, the always-inconsistent Volpe has been flat-out bad.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 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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