unpredictably

adverb

as in intermittently

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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 unpredictably Youthful ambition bequeathed them unpredictably shifting time signatures, a daunting nylon-string intro, some odd musical shifts during the guitar-solo section, and a long list of other complexities. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026 Cloud spending, which grew unpredictably when the technology was new, can now be forecast using years of historical data. — Ameya Kanitkar, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 This movement from the moon causes Earth’s rotation to slow — but our planet’s rotation also fluctuates unpredictably from year to year. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 Jazz was unpredictably fluid, a group mind thinking in real time. — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 But patients also need confidence that review standards will not shift unpredictably after sponsors and investigators have designed trials in consultation with the agency. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 14 July 2026 Children played with buscaniguas, small chasing firecrackers that darted unpredictably across the ground. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 Although flu seasons can vary in disease severity, the virus mutates so unpredictably that pandemic flu seasons – like those in 1918, 1957, 1968 and 2009 – are a recurring possibility. — Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 24 June 2026 The soft jersey fabric of these joggers gives you full leg coverage without feeling heavy or hot, which matters when cabin temperatures swing unpredictably. — Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpredictably
  1. intermittently
  2. fitfully
  3. unintentionally
  4. unconsciously
  5. inadvertently
  6. accidentally
  7. disjointedly
  8. fortuitously
Adverb
  • Swallows—the country's most beloved and recognizable birds—darted past intermittently, a subtle but very real reminder of our location on this special stretch of the Algarve.
    — Megan Wilkes, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Khat is typically chewed like tobacco, with individuals retaining it in the cheek and chewing intermittently to release the active drug, which then produces stimulant-like effects.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of intermittently
Adverb
  • Martin Filler The Met’s new Tristan und Isolde was a vocal triumph for Lise Davidsen and Michael Spyres, but Yuval Sharon’s staging only fitfully captured the essence of Wagner’s masterpiece.
    — The New York Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, 23 May 2026
  • That’s Duncan’s dilemma from the very beginning of this fitfully hilarious episode of The Audacity.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 19 Apr. 2026
Definition of fitfully
Adverb
  • Not talking about the consequences of life-threatening weight loss could unintentionally send a message that unhealthy levels of thinness is an ideal body type to aspire to.
    — Miranda Roberts, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026
  • People have introduced plants beyond their native ranges for centuries both intentionally and unintentionally.
    — Dr. Lauren Kurtz, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of unintentionally
Adverb
  • But in reality, of course, this is just happening almost unconsciously.
    — Jinae West, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
  • His opinion will be better received, and people will unconsciously be giving his appearance green flags and listening without any distraction.
    — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of unconsciously
Adverb
  • Krishna Karamkar jumped into floodwaters on July 19 when one of his two sons inadvertently fell into the overflowing Dikhow, which is a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But just as Dunham inadvertently evokes strong, sometimes delusional emotions in both her peers and the public, so does Portman.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of inadvertently
Adverb
  • But the program will need strong safeguards to ensure that a corporation does not accidentally start a war.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The sirens were accidentally activated by DuPage Public Safety Communications.
    — Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of accidentally
Adverb
  • The game ran poorly, crashed regularly, looked unremarkable, and drove disjointedly.
    — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of disjointedly
Adverb
  • And fortuitously, Napalm Death, who played a 19-minute set, espouse the same lefty politics as NPR, in fact maybe even a little more leftist, all things considered, since Barney Greenway wore a Crass T-shirt to the gig.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026
  • Dean Fleischer Camp directed the film, which was originally meant to stream on Disney+, but fortuitously, things changed and, in 2024, the film was given a theatrical release.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 12 June 2026
Definition of fortuitously

Browse Nearby Words

unpredictable
unpredictably
unprejudiced
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Cite this Entry

“Unpredictably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpredictably. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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