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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The unknowns of a new virus outbreak, coupled with an influx of sometimes unreliable information, can generate fear, dread and anxiety. Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026 The College Football Playoff was supposed to provide some certainty in a sport that, for too long, based its rewards on unreliable polls. Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026 The questioning was part of an effort by Panish to portray Erickson as an unreliable witness with an alcohol problem. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026 Many institutions still rely on systems that don’t function on mobile devices, in buildings with unreliable connectivity. Annika Erikson, Rolling Stone, 13 May 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 18 May. 2026.

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