as in unpredictable
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a boss of volatile moods is frustrating to work for
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Recent Examples of volatile
In simplest terms, grilling requires cooking raw food over fire, a constantly shifting and potentially volatile element.
—
Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
Here's Why Headline inflation held steady at 2.7% year-over-year, but core prices — which strip out volatile food and energy costs — rose 3.1%, up from 2.9% in June.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
However, while headline inflation stayed below 3%, core inflation (excluding the often volatile food and energy categories) rose to 3.1% over the past 12 months.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Yet a measure excluding those categories, which tend to be more volatile, showed the inflation rate increasing, suggesting the U.S. economy remains hampered by rising price pressures amid President Donald Trump’s tariffs push.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
Here's Why Headline inflation held steady at 2.7% year-over-year, but core prices — which strip out volatile food and energy costs — rose 3.1%, up from 2.9% in June.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
However, while headline inflation stayed below 3%, core inflation (excluding the often volatile food and energy categories) rose to 3.1% over the past 12 months.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Yet a measure excluding those categories, which tend to be more volatile, showed the inflation rate increasing, suggesting the U.S. economy remains hampered by rising price pressures amid President Donald Trump’s tariffs push.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volatile
Adjective
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The best time for aurora spotting is 2 am, when the sky is likely to be the darkest, but since the arrival of the solar storm is unpredictable, it's recommended to look throughout the night for the event.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Aug. 2025
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Renewables may be homegrown, but their output is inherently unpredictable.—
Andrew Saunders,
Fortune,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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People have been urged to avoid entering possibly unstable buildings as aftershocks continued to shake the area, according to the Times.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Although the emergency warning was reduced to a less urgent heavy rain warning on Monday afternoon, the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that the soil had become unstable due to the precipitation, leaving the region at an elevated risk of landslides even without excessive rain.—
Trisha Mukherjee,
ABC News,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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True Black 500 performance level, too, while its inputs support variable refresh rates in both the NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro systems.—
John Archer,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Some countries would be members of multiple coalitions with varied purposes, and coalitions would likely have overlapping memberships and variable geometry.—
Michael B. G. Froman,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Workers claim the organization has insufficient training, abrupt terminations, and inconsistent wages and raises.—
Maya Bell,
jsonline.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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At the federal level, Shaughnessy emphasized the urgent need to eliminate inconsistent tariffs.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.—
Jordan Kisner Jack Davison,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2022
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Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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The ongoing legal battle and federal investigation remains unsettled; Mountain West has made questionable claims Slusser's attorney, William Bock, filed a response to motions to dismiss one of the cases June 23.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
31 July 2025
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As summer travel peaks and crowded airports coincide with unsettled weather, many travelers feel like the system is in a constant state of melting down.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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Quantum technology is still years from achieving broad commercial viability, making future revenue streams uncertain.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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His analysis illustrated the highly uncertain nature of where tariff policy is leading.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volatile. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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