unreliable
adjective
un·re·li·able
ˌən-ri-ˈlī-ə-bəl 
: 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
Examples of unreliable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With Washington perceived as an increasingly unreliable protector, the Gulf states may seek greater security and economic cooperation elsewhere.
—
Jeffrey Taliaferro, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2026
An attendant might be unusually friendly and efficient, or check out your car, which was probably fairly unreliable at the time.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, expatriate Hungarians in cities such as Berlin, Brussels, Paris, and London—a smaller contingent, deemed unreliable by virtue of their exposure to cosmopolitan societies—must queue up at diplomatic missions.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
Law enforcement also proved to be poor and unreliable, and these new citizens were often victims of violence and discrimination.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
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Jeffrey Taliaferro, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2026
An attendant might be unusually friendly and efficient, or check out your car, which was probably fairly unreliable at the time.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, expatriate Hungarians in cities such as Berlin, Brussels, Paris, and London—a smaller contingent, deemed unreliable by virtue of their exposure to cosmopolitan societies—must queue up at diplomatic missions.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
Law enforcement also proved to be poor and unreliable, and these new citizens were often victims of violence and discrimination.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unreliable. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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