UNRELIABLE Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

unreliable

adjective

Definition of unreliable

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

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 unreliable Driver is the unreliable but well-intentioned brother/uncle who gets them into this sordid mess. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 26 Sep. 2026 Unlike a recruiting leader, an engineer sees a production system with no architecture, an unreliable supply chain, an unstable line and no-exception handling. — Pradeep Prasana Kanagaraj, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Among the 41 characters portrayed as having narcolepsy, 68% were depicted as incapable or unreliable. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026 Officials said public feedback collected through workshops, stakeholder meetings, pop-up events and previous surveys has identified congestion, unreliable travel times, safety and limited alternatives to driving as recurring concerns. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unreliable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable

Adjective

Cage has answered with the impulsive, erratic, and frenzied style now allegorized in Spider-Noir as Reilly’s inner monster.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
As his erratic behavior continued, police began to suspect that Randolph had hired Miller to kill Causse, but double crossed him to avoid payment.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of erratic

Adjective

The pitching staff has struggled, and the team needs to find a way to get four or five innings before turning the ball over to a shaky bullpen.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
The night got off to a shaky start when NFL football got in the way of the CBS broadcast.

— Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of shaky

Adjective

Roberts went 36-49 while injuries, roster turnover and inconsistent play undermined the franchise’s rebuilding effort around young talents Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson.

— Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Some manufacturers run their own data groups; others work through third-party aggregators, creating inconsistent landscapes for integrated solutions.

— Stacey Moser, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of inconsistent

Adjective

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
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

Definition of undependable

Adjective

These small transgressions added up to a sense of ourselves as special, exempt from the rules—but also disliked, distrusted, untrustworthy, apart.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Further, the firm’s rationale for ignoring the threat seemed untrustworthy.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of untrustworthy

Adjective

Replaying that in the oceans would be dangerous and unpredictable.

— Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
As the Satanic Slasher gruesomely hacks his way across the country with the cop in pursuit, his backstory and intentions are parceled out to the viewer piece by piece, until the movie arrives at a completely unpredictable conclusion.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of unpredictable

Adjective

For some investors, the volatile situation is leading to a more intent focus on core balance sheet metrics led by free cash flow, which measures the cash left over after expenses, interest, taxes and long-term investments.

— Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Goods would become more expensive and supply chains more volatile and prone to disruption.

— Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of volatile

Adjective

Unlike a recruiting leader, an engineer sees a production system with no architecture, an unreliable supply chain, an unstable line and no-exception handling.

— Pradeep Prasana Kanagaraj, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Neutrons are unstable when they’re not bound in nuclei, spontaneously spitting out lighter particles in about 15 minutes to become the slightly lighter proton.

— Cara Giovanetti, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of unstable

Browse Nearby Words

unreliability

unreliable

unreluctant

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“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unreliable

adjective

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