reliable

adjective

ri-ˈlī-ə-bəl How to pronounce reliable (audio)
Definition of reliablenext
as in responsible
worthy of one's trust I need a reliable car that's not going to break down constantly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 reliable Departments operating controls need clear responsibilities; risk and compliance functions provide oversight; independent assurance needs reliable evidence. — Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 But turning living cells into reliable computational components remains a serious engineering challenge. — Mike McRae 19, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026 The aid comes as Republicans struggle electorally in previously reliable agricultural states. — Riley Beggin, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026 That’s because reliable tools for identifying psychopathy were not available at that time. — David Dematteo, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reliable
  1. responsible
  2. safe
  3. true
  4. good
  5. steady
  6. dependable
  7. solid
  8. trustworthy
Adjective
  • Under that unique arrangement between the league, team and venue, the Jaguars are responsible for game day staffing, vendors, operations, ticketing, concessions and more.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Four men — including a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power employee — were responsible for more than $170,000 in damage to downtown buildings during a yearlong graffiti spree, prosecutors alleged Thursday.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of responsible
Adjective
  • The results help scientists keep nuclear weapons safe and functional without having to set one off.
    — Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Recent surveys featured in this newsletter have found Democrats believe more strongly that vaccines are safe and effective, and Republicans are often more skeptical.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of safe
Adjective
  • An invite-only Rocket Variant replaces standard features with a single-seat configuration and perimeter thrusters for true flight, rendering it non-road-legal.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The counter-argument that these groups already get the same knowledge from Iran, which gets it from China, Russia, and North Korea, is largely true.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • Even if Chili’s dismissal is unrelated, an ex-employee is a good place to start.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In 2025, Toho posted its best-ever results at the Japanese box office.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of good
Adjective
  • Because the switching happens thousands of times a second, the device can hold voltage steady, absorb a disturbance or operate in reverse, pushing power backward from batteries toward the grid.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • What everyday movements reveal Standing from a chair requires a stable base, enough ankle and hip mobility to shift your weight forward, lower body and core strength to lift yourself, and balance to keep you steady.
    — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of steady
Adjective
  • Small modular reactors could go further, supplying dependable power close to military installations, advanced manufacturing facilities, and AI data centers.
    — Dr. Sarah Kapnick, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Since entering the league in 2019, McLaurin has remained Washington's most dependable receiving threat.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of dependable
Adjective
  • Kansas City is investigating how one of its solid waste trucks struck a bicyclist over the weekend, leaving the rider with life-threatening injuries.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The Packers themselves have been solid as a team offensively, but notably rank dead last in the league in rushing yards.
    — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of solid
Adjective
  • Building stronger, more trustworthy institutions will boost growth and make the country a better partner.
    — Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
  • There are these mental gymnastics that people have to do to figure out what is really a trustworthy recommendation these days.
    — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of trustworthy

Browse Nearby Words

reliability
reliable
reliableness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reliable. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All