as in unpredictable
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a boss of volatile moods is frustrating to work for
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Recent Examples of volatile
The state agency said that water supply and quality in areas in and around the evacuation zone remain safe and reliable, and that air monitoring results for volatile organic compounds such as MMA were similar to the normal background rate.
—
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
However, unavoidable supply chain shortages in critical substrate material and memory modules (including both volatile and nonvolatile memory) significantly constrain the industry.
—ArsTechnica, 4 June 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, 4 June 2026
Weekly claims data can be volatile, particularly around holiday weeks, so economists also track the four-week moving average, which ticked up to 214,750 claims.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
However, unavoidable supply chain shortages in critical substrate material and memory modules (including both volatile and nonvolatile memory) significantly constrain the industry.
—ArsTechnica, 4 June 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, 4 June 2026
Weekly claims data can be volatile, particularly around holiday weeks, so economists also track the four-week moving average, which ticked up to 214,750 claims.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volatile
Adjective
-
The two men emerged from a crowded field of candidates in the most unpredictable governor’s race in more than a quarter of a century.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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Prices are subject to rapid, unpredictable changes due to factors like, but not limited to, supply/demand, weather, and geopolitical events.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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As the front moves into very warm, unstable air, some storms could turn severe.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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More growth funded by unstable cash flow can create pressure that does not show up immediately.—
Michael Shribman,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Interest rates on high-yield savings accounts are variable and likely to change over time based on market conditions.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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These households are left with no choice but to push variable expenses and essentials onto their credit cards.—
Ali Besharat,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Studies examining how alcohol affects people’s eating habits have produced inconsistent results, University of Sydney researchers reported in Obesity Reviews.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
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As Manaea walked off the mound Tuesday night, Mendoza clapped his hands from the bottom step of the Mets’ dugout in Seattle with exuberance inconsistent with the Mets’ early June standing.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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With roughly 1,390 ballots still outstanding, the race remained unsettled, though Ortiz would need to win more than three-quarters of the remaining ballots to overtake him in a contest that has remained neck-and-neck.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
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And while data about discontinuation and long-term use is somewhat unsettled, researchers are uniform in their view that longer treatment duration yields better outcomes.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Between Richards’ health, Ream’s age and the uncertain roles of McKenzie and Robinson, center back is the USMNT’s most fluid position.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
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The fate of roughly $2 billion annually that was intended to help reduce wildfire risk, promote clean water and build affordable housing, along with other efforts across California, is uncertain as the Legislature races to pass a state budget by Monday.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volatile. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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