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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unreliable
The amendment is based on unreliable data that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration itself estimated to be off by 30 to 40 percent.
—
Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
The cooling system in her second-story apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had always been unreliable.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 21 May 2025
This showed that changes in the truck's speed produced turbulence in the liquid helium, making measurements of its presence unreliable.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
To counter this risk, the Kremlin has accelerated its efforts to transition to a new model of political and social control and replace the most unreliable segments of the political and business elite with loyalists personally tied to Putin.
—Andrei Yakovlev, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
The cooling system in her second-story apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had always been unreliable.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 21 May 2025
This showed that changes in the truck's speed produced turbulence in the liquid helium, making measurements of its presence unreliable.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
To counter this risk, the Kremlin has accelerated its efforts to transition to a new model of political and social control and replace the most unreliable segments of the political and business elite with loyalists personally tied to Putin.
—Andrei Yakovlev, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
-
In the wake of multiple plane crashes, and amid erratic federal policies and denials and detentions at border crossings, summer travel in the U.S. is in an uneasy state.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
-
But some critics have noted his erratic behavior, such as his Nazi-like gesture at a rally, garbled answers during interviews, and frequent insults of top Trump officials.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
The economic outlook has been shaky this year for recent graduates and others searching for employment opportunities, and may be shakier still after a slowdown in job growth last month.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
6 June 2025
-
And consumer confidence remains shaky, despite some signs of relief.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Royals’ offense has been inconsistent this season.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2025
-
Without clear boundaries, AI agents may act in ways that are inconsistent with business rules, brand voice or regulatory requirements.—
Alan Ranger,
Forbes.com,
6 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
-
The humor of the books is darker and drier, partly because it comes filtered entirely through the perspective of a cyborg that views humanity as inherently untrustworthy and violence as a frustrating but useful chore.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
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This makes the administration seem like a particularly untrustworthy locus for a registry to track autistic people.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Entrepreneurs who want to survive must meet our current reality by staying as flexible as the market is unpredictable.—
Cynthia Pong,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
-
Nathan Howard | Reuters Taken from CNBC’s Daily Open, our international markets newsletter — Subscribe today Developments from the White House are growing more exciting and unpredictable than those 1,000-episode Asian drama serials.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Rising prices, fomenting trade wars, and uncertainty about when tariffs will go into effect has led to a volatile economic climate.—
Boone Ashworth,
Wired News,
4 June 2025
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Shortly after, Mars will square Uranus on June 15, creating a volatile energy between your desire for personal freedom and autonomy, versus unpredictable events that shake up your day-to-day routines and sense of stability.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Sitting places the glutes in a lengthened, inactive state that pushes the pelvis forward and puts the lower back at a painfully compressed, mechanical disadvantage, which in turn creates a posture that feels tight, stiff and unstable.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
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Business models are under pressure, distribution is unstable, and competition for attention is fiercer than ever.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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