1
as in adjustable
capable of being readily changed
a variable expense that we could reduce if we needed to
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of variable
A.o. Scott, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Overall, Ronan’s timekeeping was more accurate and less variable than the human test subjects.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Charlie Mason, TVLine, 6 May 2025
The list of potential confounding variables doesn’t stop here—there are several other factors that might make a seemingly sunlike star more prone to producing superflares than our own sun is.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for variable
Adjective
Human memory is a curious thing — variable, porous and tenacious.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Overall, Ronan’s timekeeping was more accurate and less variable than the human test subjects.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Noun
However, there remain a couple of variables at play.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 6 May 2025
The list of potential confounding variables doesn’t stop here—there are several other factors that might make a seemingly sunlike star more prone to producing superflares than our own sun is.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for variable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for variable
Adjective
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Some of the problems are caused by a volatile economic landscape.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2025
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President Donald Trump's upcoming Middle East visit will likely focus on reinforcing regional security and strengthening alliances, further heightening the stakes in an already volatile environment.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Among the supernovas in the data will be other transient events such as variable stars and kilonovas, the violent collision between extreme dense stellar remnants called neutron stars.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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In particular, Leavitt would scrutinize images of the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds, and had identified 1,800 variable stars within them.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Its adaptable, low-profile design fits into a variety of spaces without the bulk of traditional units.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Approaching your home as a flexible, adaptable space will keep it from ever looking outdated.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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The Outlaw Music Festival touched down Thursday night on the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California, and Bob Dylan once again delivered a wildly unpredictable set that stunned even his most hardcore fans.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
16 May 2025
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Another plus: The votes were completely unpredictable from week to week, leading to some truly crazy Tribals.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
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This leaves behind a white dwarf as a gradually-cooling stellar ember.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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The white dwarfs are currently orbiting around each other, with each orbit lasting over 14 hours.—
Margherita Bassi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The rules around federal civil proceedings are slightly more flexible, allowing for recording in some instances at the discretion of the judge.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
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Want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling?—
Jeannie Kim,
CNBC,
12 May 2025
Noun
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Overlaying Chandra's X-ray data (shown in bright blue) with the radio data reveals the likely cause of the fracture to be an impact from a pulsar, a rapidly spinning neutron star that sends out pulses of radiation at regular intervals.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
7 May 2025
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Magnetars are neutron stars—the highly dense, collapsed cores of exploded stars—with powerful magnetic fields.—
Margherita Bassi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
7 May 2025
Noun
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The scientists found Big Wheel near a quasar, which is a powerful and active supermassive black hole, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).—
Larissa G. Capella,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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This effect produced four distinct images of the same quasar in a cross-like pattern around the central galaxy, often referred to as an Einstein Cross.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Variable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/variable. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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