Definition of inconstancynext
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as in fluctuation
the frequent and usually sudden passing from one condition to another the inconstancy of public opinion is such that today's hero may be tomorrow's punching bag

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inconstancy Scientific and engineering advances don't do well in the face of such wild swings and inconstancy. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2025 Europeans, awakened to the danger of American inconstancy, are scrambling to spend trillions more on defense in coming years. Adam Rasmi, Time, 20 June 2025 Years of naval inconstancy with repair work drove Vigor Industrial—a once vibrant and growing maritime conglomerate—into the welcoming arms of hedge funds, which wasted no time in striping the company of value. Craig Hooper, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Here, Calabazas appears to be holding a toy windmill in one hand and, in the other, a miniature portrait of a woman, perhaps intended by Velázquez as a commentary on the inconstancy of love. Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2023 Due to his inconstancy and Angie’s growing attachment, their flimsy relationship operated on a timescale of eras coalescing into matters of historical record. Hannah Gold, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022 But, in the hands of the Fleet Foxes, the pastoral feels less like a particular zone in time and more like a space in which to parse ideas of self-reliance, the inconstancy of love, the pain of intimacy, the fear of loss, the sting of betrayal, and the strange but urgent project of hope. Brandon Taylor, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2022 Over the past 20 years, the United States has undermined its own global leadership by inconstancy. Damon Linker, The Week, 9 June 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inconstancy
Noun
  • The woman and Cooper were both arrested two weeks ago when an altercation began at Cooper's residence over allegations of infidelity.
    Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
  • That factored into her willingness to give her husband a second chance after his infidelity.
    Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • El Niño, which is a natural cyclic fluctuation, is just one driver of such record-breaking heat.
    Bill Chappell, NPR, 17 June 2026
  • The company uses long-term contracts that mimic regulated returns, avoiding the fluctuations customary in deregulated markets.
    Conor Harrison, The Conversation, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • The filings alleged adultery as the reason behind the divorce.
    Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 1 June 2026
  • Public opinion is against adultery.
    Louis Menand, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Scientists do not yet know exactly what causes the oscillations.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 15 June 2026
  • The alternative is oscillation, extraction, or irrelevance.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • Figo famously made the ultimate betrayal in 2000 when Perez became Real Madrid president for the first time.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • His jealousy provokes an act of betrayal and cruelty.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Challenging a decision can be interpreted as disloyalty.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
  • Discontent with congressional inaction also became an issue in Massie’s primary, as what was long celebrated as independence and principle was instead framed as disloyalty, grandstanding, and mindless obstructionism.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • If the landing had been faked, the Soviets would have figured it out and would have loved to reveal to the world America’s perfidy.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
  • Years ago, during his first term, Trump was lamenting the perfidy of his first Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, the former Alabama senator.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inconstancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inconstancy. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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