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
Doing so would lead to an unreliable, inefficient energy grid.
—
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
But agents at The Steller Group’s Senior Solutions Division often hear that the unexpected happens—maybe a medical emergency—that makes an older house unreliable for one partner’s physical needs.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
Cheaper options or knock-offs tend to come with flimsy sockets, buzzing ballasts, or unreliable switches, which can make rooms look cheap or dated far sooner than expected and even create fire hazards.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
More than a year post-merger, Six Flags still operates over 10 different apps, and even basic transactions like purchasing a season pass on the website have been unreliable, so modernizing and streamlining this technology could go a long way.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
But agents at The Steller Group’s Senior Solutions Division often hear that the unexpected happens—maybe a medical emergency—that makes an older house unreliable for one partner’s physical needs.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
Cheaper options or knock-offs tend to come with flimsy sockets, buzzing ballasts, or unreliable switches, which can make rooms look cheap or dated far sooner than expected and even create fire hazards.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
More than a year post-merger, Six Flags still operates over 10 different apps, and even basic transactions like purchasing a season pass on the website have been unreliable, so modernizing and streamlining this technology could go a long way.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
-
Rybakina is one of the purest ballstrikers on the tour, whose all-or-nothing game can veer from erratic to unplayable in the space of a few games.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Such a loss represents a squandered opportunity for the franchise — and yet another erratic data point in a confusing and unpredictable Panthers season.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
While the big luxury brands spent the pandemic and post-pandemic era driving up prices on shoppers who were sitting at home and looking to spend, the sector is now feeling the aftereffects with much shakier sales in a challenging consumer landscape.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Nov. 2025
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Notably, Marshon Lattimore suffered a torn ACL in Week 9, thinning an already shaky Commanders cornerback room.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The initiative’s foundation addresses the problem of inconsistent and burdensome reporting by engaging the industry to define an optional (and non-exhaustive) questionnaire aimed at strengthening data quality and consistency while significantly reducing the administrative burden on suppliers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
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Knowing that Irving would miss much of the year recuperating from his ACL tear, Harrison signed inconsistent vet D'Angelo Russell in free agency this summer, but otherwise did little to address an obvious backcourt need.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 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
-
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
-
In an audio recording that The Charlotte Observer and other news outlets published soon after, McFadden berated his staff and called them untrustworthy.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
-
If no one told you to watch for something, treat it as untrustworthy until confirmed.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This combination allows for precise navigation in tight or unpredictable environments.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Tinker was brilliant, unpredictable, and slightly unhinged.—
Henry Selick,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
First, the electrodes and electrolytes are adjusted to handle high temperatures, specifically replacing the volatile liquid electrolyte used in traditional Li batteries.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
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Taking the long view Many finance leaders remain cautious, viewing bitcoin as too volatile—especially recently—compared to traditional assets.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
On the big screen, Harford cared for Sandra Dee’s Rosalie Stocker in The Wild and the Innocent (1959) and portrayed the opportunistic older sister of Natalie Wood’s unstable title character in Inside Daisy Clover (1965), the melodrama directed by Robert Mulligan.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Nov. 2025
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Despite the improvements, her health has still been unstable over the years, partially due to her diagnosis of pulmonary vein stenosis, a rare disease that narrows the veins connecting the heart and the lungs, her father told the outlet.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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