undependable

adjective

un·​de·​pend·​able ˌən-di-ˈpen-də-bəl How to pronounce undependable (audio)
: unable to be trusted or relied on : not dependable : unreliable
an undependable source of information
an undependable water supply
undependability noun
undependably adverb

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web In some cities, buses are seen as slow, inconvenient, undependable and just not a very good experience, at least compared with light rail and trolleys. Michael Smolenscolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2022 In addition to exacting a price from Moscow for its violation of international norms, the sanctions process potentially provides other benefits such as reducing U.S. reliance on undependable offshore sources of technology. Loren Thompson, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022 With at-home tests hard to come by hard to come by, Volk said throat swabbing is too much of a gamble and Americans shouldn’t waste tests by risking undependable results. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2022 Conspiracy theories, poor communication and undependable shipments slowed efforts after the first vials of vaccine arrived Dec. 14. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2021 Conspiracy theories, poor communication and undependable shipments slowed efforts after the first vials of precious vaccine arrived Dec. 14. Carla K. Johnson And Nicky Forster, Chron, 21 Mar. 2021 As Texans finish up a week of struggling with undependable power supplies, frigid temperatures and uncertainty about clean water as frozen pipes burst, Jones isn't the only one who sees truck ownership as essential during uncertain times. Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 20 Feb. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'undependable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of undependable was in 1860

Dictionary Entries Near undependable

Cite this Entry

“Undependable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undependable. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

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