Definition of inconstancynext
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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
  • The subsequent episode—in which Sullivan, who had a serious boyfriend at home, is seen making out with one of the men—framed the incident as a simple case of infidelity.
    Judy Berman, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Moments after claiming bronze in Tuesday’s 20-kilometer men’s biathlon, Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid used the spotlight to make an emotional confession about infidelity and lingering feelings for his former partner.
    Denny Alfonso, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • After weeks of price fluctuations, the white metal hit a nominal all-time high of over $110 per troy ounce in late January 2026 — a milestone that sent investors scrambling to try and capitalize on the metal's impressive price uptick.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Its protein and fat content promote satiety, which can also reduce the urge to reach for sugary, quickly digested snacks that would cause more dramatic fluctuations.
    Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Advertisement Both Paxton’s baggage and his history of using his office to troll Democrats is a central feature in the Republican primary, which has devolved into a barrage of personal attacks of betrayal, adultery, and corruption.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Ken Paxton, a Republican running for the Senate, denied the adultery allegations.
    Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This oscillation between rage at one’s own powerlessness and fantasies of violence is the song’s motive force.
    Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The operational detector will precisely image interactions using detailed 3D tracking, enabling measurement of neutrino oscillations, as well as differences between neutrinos and antineutrinos.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • It’s filled with super-heightened emotions; unrestrained passion, betrayal, evil and even a magic spell or two.
    David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Feb. 2026
  • What’s most striking about the response is the sense of betrayal about Aronofsky’s involvement.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Research on group dynamics shows that dissent is often interpreted as disloyalty rather than contribution.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The courts have warned against treating dissent as disloyalty.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • More recently, an al Qaeda operative and suspected mastermind behind the 2000 USS Cole bombing — in which suicide bombers sidled up alongside a US warship, waved to the sailors and then detonated explosives — was charged with perfidy, among other crimes.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
  • The report has raised concerns of perfidy, an act of deception by military forces.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inconstancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inconstancy. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

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