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
The state agency said that water supply and quality in areas in and around the evacuation zone remain safe and reliable, and that air monitoring results for volatile organic compounds such as MMA were similar to the normal background rate.
—
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
However, unavoidable supply chain shortages in critical substrate material and memory modules (including both volatile and nonvolatile memory) significantly constrain the industry.
—ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
Flying is the company’s second Nova-C lander named Athena featuring NASA’s PRIME-1 drill, to land a drill and mass spectrometer near the south pole of the moon in order to demonstrate the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and measure the volatile content of subsurface samples.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2026
Weekly claims data can be volatile, particularly around holiday weeks, so economists also track the four-week moving average, which ticked up to 214,750 claims.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
However, unavoidable supply chain shortages in critical substrate material and memory modules (including both volatile and nonvolatile memory) significantly constrain the industry.
—ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
Flying is the company’s second Nova-C lander named Athena featuring NASA’s PRIME-1 drill, to land a drill and mass spectrometer near the south pole of the moon in order to demonstrate the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and measure the volatile content of subsurface samples.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2026
Weekly claims data can be volatile, particularly around holiday weeks, so economists also track the four-week moving average, which ticked up to 214,750 claims.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volatile
Adjective
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The number of parts made the behavior of each one unpredictable, although the whole was governed by rules.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
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According to VinDynamics, the deployment demonstrated the platform’s ability to function reliably in unpredictable service environments while maintaining continuous interaction with people.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Because the chemicals and the tank were deemed unstable, responders couldn't immediately access all the areas of the facility to search for additional victims, officials said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
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So we are used to operating in a very unstable context.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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The variable nature of gig income can complicate benefit determinations.—
Diane Winiarski,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Estimating the prospective returns on a money market account, however, will be exactly that – an estimate, as the account has a variable rate that will adapt to market conditions.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Studies examining how alcohol affects people’s eating habits have produced inconsistent results, University of Sydney researchers reported in Obesity Reviews.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
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As Manaea walked off the mound Tuesday night, Mendoza clapped his hands from the bottom step of the Mets’ dugout in Seattle with exuberance inconsistent with the Mets’ early June standing.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Storm chances increase again on Sunday and continue into next week as upper-level ridging shifts east and a more unsettled southwest flow develops.—
Nelly Carreño,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
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The unsettled question is who owns the funnel from manuscript to listener.—
Gabriel Alin Zainescu,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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The fate of the House bill is uncertain in the Senate.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
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And yet, the complex plot comes down to the bond between Albus and Scorpius, who are living in their fathers’ shadows, bullied and uncertain of themselves, as their connections with their dads falter.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volatile. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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