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
Paul Gorton acts as Vernon’s unreliable tour guide.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
In place of unreliable zippers that can snag or break easily, this hardshell suitcase uses secure, convenient latches.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
In contrast, the maker of a fighter jet might tell the military that, over a certain G force, the plane will become unreliable.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Look at Annapolis’ obsession with offshore wind projects — big, ugly, industrial efforts that enrage residents, threaten marine life and provide unreliable power while depending entirely on massive ratepayer subsidies.
—Justin Ready, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
In place of unreliable zippers that can snag or break easily, this hardshell suitcase uses secure, convenient latches.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
In contrast, the maker of a fighter jet might tell the military that, over a certain G force, the plane will become unreliable.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Look at Annapolis’ obsession with offshore wind projects — big, ugly, industrial efforts that enrage residents, threaten marine life and provide unreliable power while depending entirely on massive ratepayer subsidies.
—Justin Ready, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
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The war has torn up a fifth of the country, but even with scant, erratic assistance, Ukrainians must emerge from the dust, to be applauded by the West, and go it close-to-alone again.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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Together with Michael Imperioli, who played the erratic Christopher Moltisanti to his gentle, reliable Bobby Bacala, Schirripa opened up about the famously secretive set — and the extra precautions against that maybe should have been taken in hindsight.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Celtics’ shakiest shooter early on was Brown, who scored two first-quarter points while going 0-for-4 from the foul line.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
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While the Hawks’ legs were shaky, Connor Bedard was strong enough to carry the team most of the way.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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His 3-point shooting has been inconsistent, and his perimeter defense remains a developmental area, but his ability to affect games without needing plays called for him gives him a potential pathway to a niche role.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
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But their presence and execution remain inconsistent across platforms and content.—
Abbey White,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2026
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.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
25 Feb. 2026
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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).—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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An evil global cabal, an ineffectual justice system, the exercise of unchecked power by untrustworthy experts—these are familiar themes.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2026
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In the version nurses want, the alert is an invitation to look closer, not an untrustworthy digital manager.—
Hilke Schellmann,
Scientific American,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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With unpredictable weather on the horizon, the barn jacket is a happy medium between light jackets and heavy coats.—
India Roby,
Glamour,
24 Feb. 2026
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If your income is unpredictable or already stretched thin, that commitment could create more stress instead of less.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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One of the most challenging aspects of dealing with these beetles is that the feeding pests cause the affected plant to produce a volatile aromatic scent, which quickly attracts other beetles to the feast.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
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There might not be another team whose ebbs and flows have been so volatile this season.—
Kristian Winfield,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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On such inherently unstable ground, the composure of each individual shot feels all the more deliberate.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
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An employee managed to speak to Giddens but could not reach him because the ground surrounding him was unstable.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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