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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Enjoy the unpredictable and the unknown, which is where wonder and curiosity and adventure unfold.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
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While some travelers visit family or business contacts, U.S. officials warn that conditions remain unpredictable and dangerous.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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But this summer, the rain has been inconsistent and has often missed much of northern and central Arizona.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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And not all retail data strategies are created equally as many organizations are plagued with data silos, subpar data quality, inconsistent data, and other challenges.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
19 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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Life-threatening rip currents will also be widespread along the East Coast all week, and likely through the weekend, due to these unsettled waters.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
18 Aug. 2025
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With the ongoing litigation and unsettled backdrop, uncertainty around the future of tariffs and trade persists.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The path toward peace between the two sides remains uncertain despite U.S. efforts for diplomacy as the U.S. government and its allies attempt to work out potential security guarantees for Ukraine.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Buendia is keen to stay, but his future will remain uncertain until the window shuts on the evening of Monday, September 1.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volatile. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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