1
as in adjustable
capable of being readily changed
a variable expense that we could reduce if we needed to
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
highly variable income from his job as a real estate agent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in variable star
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of variable
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The system runs on a variable ratio that’s speed driven, which means the faster the car goes the slower the ratio and vice versa.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The number appears in studies and policy briefs with clinical neutrality, as if time were a passive variable in a complex system.
—Sarah Berg, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for variable
Adjective
That variable-rate exposure is the trade-off for today's lower starting cost.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The system runs on a variable ratio that’s speed driven, which means the faster the car goes the slower the ratio and vice versa.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
Of course, Trump not being here is one variable.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The number appears in studies and policy briefs with clinical neutrality, as if time were a passive variable in a complex system.
—Sarah Berg, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for variable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for variable
Adjective
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Meanwhile, the team has also built a wearable back support device that combines soft materials with adjustable assistance.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Coach Waverly Natural Grain Leather Shoulder Bag has an adjustable strap to convert into a crossbody, and it’s marked down in the prettiest, spring-y shade of green.—
Jordan Julian,
InStyle,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Deterring Pests Another companion planting strategy is to interplant crops with plants that produce volatile chemicals such as strong odors that confuse pests.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
-
As a result, expect the stock market to remain volatile next week as updates on the Iran war continue to roll through.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bradley Schaefer, an astronomer at Louisiana State University, focuses on cataclysmic variable stars, objects that vary in brightness over time due to some type of major turmoil.—
Liz Kruesi,
Quanta Magazine,
2 Feb. 2026
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In another imaging campaign, API, assisted by AMIGO, was able to produce detailed images of a black hole jet, the volcanic surface of Jupiter's moon Io, and stellar winds emanating from a distant variable star.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The lesson of history, in some sense, is that being adaptable, and having curiosity and a willingness to try out new technologies and new tools, that’s where young people have have flourished the most in the past.—
Matthew Heimer,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The best leaders build adaptable, curious people who love learning.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Special election turnout is unpredictable, but Harris' overperformance in Georgia tonight fits into broader narratives about Democrats' chances in the midterms, especially if the war in Iran continues on and gas prices for Americans continue to rise.—
Halle Troadec,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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That matters because real homes are messy and unpredictable.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Additionally, by using computer simulations, the researchers were able to determine the future of this 3+1 star system, ending up as just two white dwarf stellar remnants.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Finally, its now-inert core contracts down to form a white dwarf, while the prior ejecta get heated up and ionized, creating a planetary nebula.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There was experimental literature in which the role of the author could be tweaked; in popular fiction, authorship could be a flexible concept.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
According to experts, someone can be easygoing without being passive, or flexible while also staying engaged.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The solution was to break the problem down, considering each neutron star individually, and its companion as just a source of gravitational tides.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
15 Mar. 2026
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When such a star was some 10 to 25 times the mass of our sun, that remnant is usually a neutron star.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Variable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/variable. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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