as in unpredictable
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a boss of volatile moods is frustrating to work for
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 volatile
The volatile organic compound can cause eye and skin irrigation as well as coughing, wheezing, headache or shortness of breath if inhaled.
—
Evan Bush, NBC news, 30 May 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, 30 May 2026
But an even more important metric for the Federal Reserve is core PCE, which excludes the more volatile categories of food and energy.
—D. Brian Blank, Fortune, 30 May 2026
The painstaking work of clearing depots has ground to a halt, overtaken by a more volatile reality.
—Euan Ward, New Yorker, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Evan Bush, NBC news, 30 May 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, 30 May 2026
But an even more important metric for the Federal Reserve is core PCE, which excludes the more volatile categories of food and energy.
—D. Brian Blank, Fortune, 30 May 2026
The painstaking work of clearing depots has ground to a halt, overtaken by a more volatile reality.
—Euan Ward, New Yorker, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volatile
Adjective
-
The number of parts made the behavior of each one unpredictable, although the whole was governed by rules.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
-
According to VinDynamics, the deployment demonstrated the platform’s ability to function reliably in unpredictable service environments while maintaining continuous interaction with people.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Because the chemicals and the tank were deemed unstable, responders couldn't immediately access all the areas of the facility to search for additional victims, officials said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
So we are used to operating in a very unstable context.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The variable nature of gig income can complicate benefit determinations.—
Diane Winiarski,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Estimating the prospective returns on a money market account, however, will be exactly that – an estimate, as the account has a variable rate that will adapt to market conditions.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Your first warning is when local news, embassy alerts, and travel communications become inconsistent or censored, situational awareness is compromised.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
AltaMed doctors and medical professionals traded stethoscopes for fliers advertising voting sites and canvassed neighborhoods in Santa Ana ahead of the June 2 primary on Tuesday to connect with residents who had been diagnosed as low-propensity or inconsistent voters.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
Storm chances increase again on Sunday and continue into next week as upper-level ridging shifts east and a more unsettled southwest flow develops.—
Nelly Carreño,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
-
The unsettled question is who owns the funnel from manuscript to listener.—
Gabriel Alin Zainescu,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
The fate of the House bill is uncertain in the Senate.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
-
And yet, the complex plot comes down to the bond between Albus and Scorpius, who are living in their fathers’ shadows, bullied and uncertain of themselves, as their connections with their dads falter.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volatile. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
