unreliable

adjective

un·​re·​li·​able ˌən-ri-ˈlī-ə-bəl How to pronounce unreliable (audio)
Synonyms of unreliablenext
: not reliable : undependable, untrustworthy
an unreliable friend
an unreliable source of funding
an unreliable car
unreliability noun
the unreliability of the data
a person with a reputation for unreliability
unreliably adverb
a method that works unreliably

Examples of unreliable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Such an interview, legal experts said, would be impossible without Chinese interference, and Fang would be considered an unreliable witness. Perry Stein The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026 In these scenarios, traditional sensors like cameras and lidar often become unreliable. Nitin Sanket, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026 Now there are none, their place having been taken by some two dozen littoral combat ships, which have proved mechanically unreliable, underequipped for high-threat environments, and unsuited for key missions. Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026 Justin Wrobleski — Can give them some length out of the bullpen, plus can step into the rotation if Sasaki or Sheehan prove too unreliable before Snell returns. Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unreliable

Word History

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unreliable was in 1810

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Cite this Entry

“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unreliable. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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