as in unpredictable
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a boss of volatile moods is frustrating to work for
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of volatile
The security environment around the airport and its surrounding urban areas and Port-au-Prince in general, still remains highly volatile, the firm said in an analysis published after the government’s announcement.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
The volatile tariff situation also means that data since April, and for the foreseeable future, could be fuzzy.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 12 June 2025
The Trump administration sees Somaliland – a self-governing territory with its own currency and passport – as a potential strategic ally in the volatile Horn of Africa.
—Kate Bartlett, Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 2025
The fire had to feel alive, volatile, and credible—a force the actors had to confront in real time.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
The volatile tariff situation also means that data since April, and for the foreseeable future, could be fuzzy.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 12 June 2025
The Trump administration sees Somaliland – a self-governing territory with its own currency and passport – as a potential strategic ally in the volatile Horn of Africa.
—Kate Bartlett, Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 2025
The fire had to feel alive, volatile, and credible—a force the actors had to confront in real time.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volatile
Adjective
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Each response is a surprise, tapping into the psychological principle of intermittent reinforcement, famously demonstrated by psychologist B.F. Skinner, where unpredictable rewards significantly amplify behaviors, much like gambling addiction.—
Curt Steinhorst,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Bright lights, unpredictable noises, unfamiliar smells, and the pressure to 'behave' in a certain way can quickly overwhelm a child whose brain processes the world differently.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Caregivers, or Care Pros, are the largest workforce in the U.S., yet their jobs are often undervalued and unstable.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Residents in the wing that stayed intact managed to get out but were not allowed to return to their homes, and the rest of the building, determined to be unstable, was demolished 10 days later as a hurricane threatened South Florida.—
Linda Robertson,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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The variable readership of advice columns made a clear identity undesirable in an adviser.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
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The supply chain experiences multiple friction points because of procurement lead times, variable demand, multi-stage assembly and quality testing.—
Dileep Rai,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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This can result in inconsistent model behavior or bloated integrations.—
Adrian Bridgwater,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Chiefs 2022 second-round pick Skyy Moore has been productive in practices but also needs to regain trust after previous inconsistent play.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.—
Jordan Kisner Jack Davison,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2022
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Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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More substantively, the ideological contours of the new Resistance still feel unsettled.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
20 June 2025
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But the broader future of federal support for science remains unsettled.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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To be sure, the uncertain economy could weigh on consumer spending in the near term, impacting online purchases.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
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Overall, the challenges highlighted by business leaders included uncertain economic conditions (55 percent), tariffs (41 percent), and revenue and sales growth (41 percent).—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volatile. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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