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
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 variable
Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
The deal, at $330 a square foot, was financed with a 10-year, $2.4 million loan from Alpine Bank with a variable interest rate, according to public records.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 9 Feb. 2026
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
One variable includes whether the clothing and backpack was purchased online or in-store.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for variable
Adjective
Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
The deal, at $330 a square foot, was financed with a 10-year, $2.4 million loan from Alpine Bank with a variable interest rate, according to public records.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
Skiing is unique because every mountain is different and the weather remains a variable.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
One variable includes whether the clothing and backpack was purchased online or in-store.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for variable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for variable
Adjective
-
What does stand out, though, is the ergonomic, adjustable handlebar that can adjust to fit the height of the user.—
Erica Zazo,
Outside,
20 Feb. 2026
-
This particular set also comes with a fire pit table with adjustable heat controls for an enjoyable outdoor setup even on brisk spring nights.—
Melanie Fincher,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Quick recovery after extinction Interestingly, the fossil identification suggests that even in the immediate, volatile aftermath of a global catastrophe, these creatures were not isolated.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Flying is the company’s second Nova-C lander named Athena featuring NASA’s PRIME-1 drill, to land a drill and mass spectrometer near the south pole of the moon in order to demonstrate the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and measure the volatile content of subsurface samples.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 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
-
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
-
Robots made from these materials could be lighter, safer, and more adaptable than traditional metal machines.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
-
For this reason, retirement planning must be adaptable.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
With unpredictable weather on the horizon, the barn jacket is a happy medium between light jackets and heavy coats.—
India Roby,
Glamour,
24 Feb. 2026
-
If your income is unpredictable or already stretched thin, that commitment could create more stress instead of less.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Finally, the nebula fades away and only a white dwarf is left behind.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Procyon's white dwarf companion was not found until 1896 at the Lick Observatory in California.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Retirees who are flexible with spending or have other income sources, like Social Security or pensions, may be more comfortable using gold this way than someone who needs steady, reliable monthly cash.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Curlers need an intense training regimen, dedicated to sustaining them through short bursts of cardiovascular exercise (sweeping) and keeping their legs flexible and strong to support the deep lunge position adopted when hurling the stone.—
Julia Frankel,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Learning about these highly energized neutrinos could lead to discoveries about where in the universe they might have been created, such as black holes and neutron star collisions — the latter of which are the most powerful classes of explosions in the cosmos.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The fact that these events are responsible for the creation of some of our most precious and important elements, as well as bright cosmic phenomena like GRBs and kilonovas, means there has been a heavy bias toward studying the aftereffects of neutron star mergers.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Variable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/variable. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
