as in unpredictable
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a boss of volatile moods is frustrating to work for
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of volatile
The disruption of trade through the Strait of Hormuz, along with attacks on oil infrastructure in the Middle East, made crude prices highly volatile and pushed gasoline prices up by a dollar per gallon on average.
—
Camila Domonoske, NPR, 17 Apr. 2026
Instead of the open road, the story moves into a workplace environment, where tensions are less explosive but no less volatile.
—Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Almost one year later, Mortimer exclusively opened up to PEOPLE about her volatile relationship with Fanjul; she was hospitalized with head lacerations on Christmas Day in 2013, and her car windshield was broken during another brutal fight between the two, according to police reports.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
The remaining portion is still vulnerable to volatile fuel prices, with every $100 movement in prices equating to £40 million of costs in the second half of 2026.
—Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Camila Domonoske, NPR, 17 Apr. 2026
Instead of the open road, the story moves into a workplace environment, where tensions are less explosive but no less volatile.
—Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Almost one year later, Mortimer exclusively opened up to PEOPLE about her volatile relationship with Fanjul; she was hospitalized with head lacerations on Christmas Day in 2013, and her car windshield was broken during another brutal fight between the two, according to police reports.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
The remaining portion is still vulnerable to volatile fuel prices, with every $100 movement in prices equating to £40 million of costs in the second half of 2026.
—Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volatile
Adjective
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His practice hinges on improvisation, resulting in blunt, expressive, and unpredictable work.—
Maxie Younger,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Baby Reindeer was hardly a laugh riot, but mortifying humor is still humor and, with episodic running times in the 30-minute range, the show had a charging, unpredictable momentum.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Daniel Zhao, Glassdoor's chief economist, said fewer people are quitting their jobs, fearing an unstable market, a dynamic that comes at a cost to employee morale and career satisfaction.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The serac between base camp and Camp One is unstable and is risky for climbers, said Himal Gautam of Nepal's Department of Mountaineering.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Expect variable clouds for the rest of Monday with an additional sprinkle or light shower.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Redwood Materials will handle system integration and energy management, positioning the setup as a flexible storage solution for manufacturing sites with high and variable electricity demand.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In addition to reinforcing the fiduciary standards that are already in place for community associations, this will help to establish stronger grounds for claims involving unilateral acts by directors, inadequate reserve planning, inconsistent rules enforcement, or failures in management oversight.—
Evonne Andris,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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Maybe—but the effects are likely to be modest and inconsistent.—
Patricia Weiser,
Verywell Health,
9 Apr. 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
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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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The weekend will be quiet and comfortable with near-normal temperatures, with conditions becoming unsettled again early next week.—
Joseph Dames,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
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In addition to unsettled funding mechanisms, the cultural understanding of 988 is still shifting.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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While the future remains uncertain for Lawrence and Rogers, the pair know that Rogers cannot live at her dad's house with her brother forever.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
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Those issues include housing shortages, rampant homelessness, the nation’s highest levels of unemployment and poverty, uncertain water supplies, soaring utility costs, shamefully low academic achievement in public schools and a state budget in chronic deficit.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volatile. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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