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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Recent Examples of unreliable
Zoomers are also drinking less alcohol than previous generations, eschewing a traditional if unreliable shortcut to human connection—i.e., getting wasted and taking someone home.
—
Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Some stablecoins have drawn scrutiny in the past over concerns that their reserves were insufficient or relied on mechanisms that would unreliable in times of market stress.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 21 June 2025
The rationing system, long unreliable, collapsed entirely under the weight of the lockdown.
—Will Ripley, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
Crucial messages embedded where our unreliable narrator just glimpses them, struggling against herself to see.
—Erin Khuê Ninh
june 17, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Some stablecoins have drawn scrutiny in the past over concerns that their reserves were insufficient or relied on mechanisms that would unreliable in times of market stress.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 21 June 2025
The rationing system, long unreliable, collapsed entirely under the weight of the lockdown.
—Will Ripley, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
Crucial messages embedded where our unreliable narrator just glimpses them, struggling against herself to see.
—Erin Khuê Ninh
june 17, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
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The plane made erratic maneuvers and several mayday calls before disappearing, the report said.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
-
China’s export growth has shown some resilience in recent months, even as the erratic U.S. tariff policies disrupted global trade.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
International events have given Emmanuel Macron a new platform away from domestic troubles, but Francois Bayrou has in effect imperiled his government on pension reform and the government is again on shaky foundations.—
Mike O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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But to remove federal protection would mean grizzly bears would face increasing threats to their survival at a time when some biologists argue the species’ recovery is shaky at best.—
Christine Peterson,
Vox,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Since 2024, luxury brands from conglomerates like Kering, LVMH and Richemont have experienced inconsistent quarters of sales growth and decline.—
Emma Sandler,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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The talented but inconsistent 22-year-old forward has tantalized the Warriors with his athleticism and scoring, and frustrated with his mental lapses and on-court gaffes, for four seasons since being the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
But while the stock market is often a fickle friend, as are commodities such as oil and natural gas, wheat and corn, part of what was so shocking in 2022 was the simultaneous slump in government and corporate bonds, which proved as undependable as stocks.—
,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2025
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Food, water and other resources would have to be shipped from home, at distances that make the supply frighteningly undependable.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Two different state attorneys declared Lopez untrustworthy.—
Scott Maxwell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2025
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People with basolateral amygdala damage tend to send much more than others, even to untrustworthy trustees who fail to reciprocate.—
Tobias Kalenscher,
Scientific American,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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The head of the European Central Bank said inflation has become more unpredictable due to shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and that policymakers need to take the possibility of such extreme scenarios into account and communicate them to the public as well.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
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But for investors who are wary of the susceptibility of Argos’s sales to the unpredictable nature of the weather, the team is ramping up its efforts to expand its products to include stockless ranges.—
John Choong,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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But David’s volatile behavior, which includes smashing a glass coffee table to pieces in front of the other children, quickly turns them into unwelcome guests.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
10 July 2025
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Whether or not all these pricing updates are related to tariffs is unclear, but the volatile trade war has brought uncertainty.—
Julian Chokkattu,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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For manufacturers using Odoo, a strategic approach to agentic AI can help prepare for unstable markets, rising costs, shifting customer demands and hostile geopolitics.—
Dmitriy Stepanov,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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But Haiti remains unstable, Columbus' Manuel said, disputing the government's claim that conditions have improved there.—
Danae King,
USA Today,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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