1
as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
so far your effort to land a summer job has been very erratic
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
because of your erratic attendance at practice, you're in danger of being cut from the team
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in changing
not staying constant
business at the fast-food restaurant has been so erratic lately that the manager never knows how much staff to have on hand
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
the animal's erratic behavior made her wonder if it was ill
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of erratic
Walker is the worst of all worlds — a reliever who’s too talented to give up on, but too erratic to trust.
—
Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 30 June 2025
When autistic people do not understand or cannot follow a police officer's instructions, or moves in a way that police perceive as erratic or threatening, police may immediately escalate to using force, including sometimes killing the autistic person.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
By the spring, fans and followers began expressing concern for Bieber, whose Instagram content and behavior in public became more erratic.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2025
Trump’s erratic trade policies continue to handcuff the ability of executives to predict where their businesses are headed.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for erratic
Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 30 June 2025
When autistic people do not understand or cannot follow a police officer's instructions, or moves in a way that police perceive as erratic or threatening, police may immediately escalate to using force, including sometimes killing the autistic person.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
By the spring, fans and followers began expressing concern for Bieber, whose Instagram content and behavior in public became more erratic.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2025
Trump’s erratic trade policies continue to handcuff the ability of executives to predict where their businesses are headed.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for erratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erratic
Adjective
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This behaviour can also be triggered by a random and undefined phrase or prompt.—
Rashi Shrivastava,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Keppler notes that the 10-year time frame isn’t random.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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Hamas long ago expended the vast majority of its rocket arsenal, able now to launch only sporadic rockets that have near-zero impact.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
12 July 2025
-
After several days of spotty showers, a few stronger, scarier storms, and sporadic outbreaks of sunshine, Austin has virtually zero rain chances on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.—
Roberto Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Some 40 of these bizarre, geochemically-active sub-Neptunes are currently being studied observationally.—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
As a result of a bizarre last-minute decision, the nominees in two Emmys categories will be announced Tuesday morning on CBS nearly four hours ahead of the TV Academy’s official nominations announcement, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.—
Beatrice Verhoeven,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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The 32-year-old spent the last two seasons exclusively in the NHL after grinding his way through AHL seasons with the occasional call-up.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
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Millions of children play sports with overwhelmingly positive outcomes, despite the occasional scraped knee, or in rare and tragic cases, serious injuries and even death.—
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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The pandemic may have accelerated long-standing public health challenges, and the recovery, the study makes clear, has been uneven and incomplete.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
-
Whether dealing with slick grass, gravel paths, or uneven surfaces, the Sunseeker Elite X7 maintains control and performance with minimal slippage.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ali spends a good chunk of time confused by the strange words whirling around him.—
Christopher J. Yates
July 9,
Literary Hub,
9 July 2025
-
Once it’s set, however, the song hits that midpoint launch, and the visuals take off with it, careening into a kaleidoscopic burst of moshing, shredding, and seemingly unfettered euphoria that quickly descends into strange violence and cannibalistic chaos.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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There are no longer arbitrary divisions in which people say that different functions aren’t their job or concern.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Marylanders deserve a civil justice system that recognizes the full scope of human suffering and empowers citizen juries to render verdicts based on evidence rather than arbitrary limitations.—
Bruce M. Plaxen,
Baltimore Sun,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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There’s a reason for that: Fire hose again, coupled with intermittent kinks and leaks.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
12 July 2025
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Dietary changes such as intermittent fasting, caloric restriction, and ketogenic diet with regular exercise can prevent MASH or delay its progression.—
Suchandrima Bhowmik,
Health,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Erratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erratic. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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