volatile

adjective

ˈvä-lə-tᵊl How to pronounce volatile (audio)
Definition of volatilenext
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

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 cost of crude oil — the main ingredient in gasoline as well as diesel — has been volatile as markets and consumers feel whiplash about uncertainty of the war’s future. — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026 The new system uses machine-learning algorithms to recognize patterns associated with volatile organic compounds, the molecules responsible for smells, and classify them into odor categories. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026 Earlier this year, CNN talked to travelers choosing to vacation in war zones, radiation sites and volatile borderlands. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Douglas detailed his volatile relationship with his late father, Kirk Douglas, his son Cameron’s addiction and imprisonment, and the Stage 4 cancer diagnosis that forced him to confront his own mortality. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for volatile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volatile
  1. unpredictable
  2. unstable
  3. variable
  4. inconsistent
  5. changeful
  6. unsettled
  7. uncertain
Adjective
  • Rashida Jones and Will McCormack wrote the screenplay for the film that follows two couples at a dinner party that turns into an unpredictable evening exposing messy relationships and desires.
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The Serbian leader had long been seen as an unpredictable annoyance, and his balancing act wasn’t particularly subtle.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • Water essentially acts as a catalyst that spontaneously creates particles known as hydroxyl radicals, unstable molecules linked to aging and disease.
    — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • If a tree appears diseased, unstable or at risk of falling, consider documenting the problem and notifying the owner in writing.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of unstable
Adjective
  • The display retains the 120 Hz variable refresh rate of its predecessors.
    — Samuel Axon, ArsTechnica, 28 Oct. 2026
  • It’s defined as the transition to variable period cycle length, skipped cycles, and hormone changes, occurring from about age 45 to 51.
    — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of variable
Adjective
  • Lucy’s behavior may be frustratingly inconsistent, but many viewers will recognize the immeasurable suffering that drives it.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • That triggers First Amendment protection, and that means there cannot be viewpoint discrimination or unreasonable restrictions that are inconsistent with the speech activities imposed on the journalists.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of inconsistent
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
Definition of changeful
Adjective
  • However, the lack of a hybrid option, the touchscreen-heavy climate controls, and the occasionally unsettled ride prevent the Atlas from separating itself from the pack.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But instead of bringing unsettled weather, the offshore storm helped produce cloud-free skies from Maine to Florida.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsettled
Adjective
  • Whether those disparate parties can form a government is uncertain and will likely take weeks of haggling.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Treating your partner with respect and appreciation can strengthen your bond and help both of you feel more secure in an uncertain world.
    — Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncertain

Browse Nearby Words

voids
volatile
volatileness
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Cite this Entry

“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volatile. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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