as in erratic
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
I wouldn't count on him to show up for the play—he's pretty unreliable. She drives her car locally, but worries it's too unreliable for longer trips.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unreliable
The president and his advisers have repeatedly criticized offshore wind as intermittent, unreliable and unsightly.
—
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
So, take your cues from flight attendants this season and snag the Nesugar G2 Travel Garment Steamer to quickly smooth your clothes without depending on the unreliable hotel iron.
—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2026
Such a system can be especially helpful indoors, in city environments where GPS and other global navigation satellite systems’ signals are unreliable, or in regions where there is active GPS jamming.
—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
12 June 2026
This saves you the trouble of relying on potentially unreliable mobile networks to reach your destination.
—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
So, take your cues from flight attendants this season and snag the Nesugar G2 Travel Garment Steamer to quickly smooth your clothes without depending on the unreliable hotel iron.
—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2026
Such a system can be especially helpful indoors, in city environments where GPS and other global navigation satellite systems’ signals are unreliable, or in regions where there is active GPS jamming.
—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
12 June 2026
This saves you the trouble of relying on potentially unreliable mobile networks to reach your destination.
—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
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Weather officials say erratic winds have been sending smoke to different parts of the region this weekend.
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That, of course, was shown at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where the Jabulani grabbed headlines for its erratic and unpredictable movement — so much so that there’s a Wikipedia page dedicated to its criticisms.
Adjective
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The shaky outing continued Sasaki’s post-breakthrough slide, but the setback barely dents the Dodgers’ commanding division cushion, with San Diego still eight games back in the standings.
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Andy’s spark is just what Runway needs, though, since the glossy fashion magazine is on shaky financial grounds in the age of digital media.
Adjective
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According to Chernoff, this can lead to excess frost, stale odors, and inconsistent freezing conditions, all of which negatively affect ice quality.
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Golfers have long sought solutions for inconsistent putting, with many traditional tips proving ineffective.
Adjective
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And then there’s Kimberly’s home life, which features an emotionally and physically fragile mom preparing to give birth and an undependable alcoholic father.
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Yasmin, who was ousted from Pierpoint after a tabloid scandal involving her publishing-magnate father threatened to sully the bank by association, has turned to another undependable man for salvation, proposing to an aristocratic failson called Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington).
Adjective
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The local gendarmerie, led by blandly untrustworthy Inspector Marchal (Bertrand Belin) is called in to investigate.
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There is evidence that this tendency, known as the endowment effect, was favored by natural selection when bargains were risky in a pre-modern world, a time when giving over one item, in trade for another, might risk getting nothing at all from an untrustworthy trading partner.
Adjective
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This unpredictable chaos, fueled by technological glitches and administrative issues, is worsening as peak summer travel begins.
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However, construction zones are inherently unpredictable.
Adjective
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Gonzalo Fuentes | Reuters Global stock markets have been volatile as investors continue to assess geopolitical risks in the Middle East, fundamentals and valuations of companies in the artificial intelligence (AI) market and key economic data.
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The crisis started after officials responded to GKN’s Garden Grove facility on May 21 and soon realized a volatile chemical tank was at risk of exploding or causing a major spill.
Adjective
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The conservation team will secure unstable paint before cleaning the works with fiber lasers.
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Most of the people with the dragons are either unstable or idiots, or both.
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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