undependable

adjective

un·​de·​pend·​able ˌən-di-ˈpen-də-bəl 

: unable to be trusted or relied on : not dependable : unreliable

an undependable source of information

an undependable water supply

undependability

ˌən-di-ˌpen-də-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

undependably

ˌən-di-ˈpen-də-blē 

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

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Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above