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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
  • This type of infidelity can stem from dissatisfaction in the relationship or a desire for something different.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Lorenzo must deal with the repercussions of his infidelity and the weight of all the manipulation.
    Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That led to allegations that Ticketmaster was using its controversial dynamic pricing model, which allows for price fluctuations based on demand.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The process also faces accuracy issues, as fluctuations in parameter optimization can impact control over shape and size.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Unhappy unions loom large in the novel, which teems with adultery.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Thou shalt not commit adultery.
    Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • For example, if an electric motor normally draws 20 A at 100 Hz oscillation, an unexplained 30 A or 150 Hz jump could signal bearing damage.
    Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
  • During my outdoor run, the SE 3 also measured my calories, distance, elevation gain, pace, time, and advanced form metrics like power, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and stride length.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After jumping between two worlds in the first half of the season, John Cena’s Chris Smith finally moves to the parallel universe to be a better man, a decision partly prompted by a heartbreaking betrayal.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
  • She is caught up in a delusion, convinced that her imaginary accomplice Libardo is accusing her of betrayal.
    Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Many of China’s top military officials have been purged during Xi’s third term on charges of corruption or disloyalty.
    PHILIP H. GORDON, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
  • A lot of disloyalty this season with lots of empty words.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Their perfidy is memorialized in the English language, though.
    Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
  • The prior month, Vice President JD Vance had lodged his own complaints about Europe’s alleged perfidy, threatening that the United States might withdraw its security guarantees from Europe if the EU continued to aggressively regulate U.S. tech companies.
    ANU BRADFORD, Foreign Affairs, 21 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inconstancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inconstancy. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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