unreliable

1 of 2

adjective

un·​re·​li·​able ˌən-ri-ˈlī-ə-bəl How to pronounce unreliable (audio)
Synonyms of unreliablenext
: not reliable : undependable, untrustworthy
an unreliable friend
an unreliable source of funding
an unreliable car
unreliability noun
the unreliability of the data
a person with a reputation for unreliability
unreliably adverb
a method that works unreliably

unreliability

2 of 2

noun

un·​reliability ¦ən+ How to pronounce unreliability (audio)
: the quality or state of being unreliable

Examples of unreliable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Employees quickly abandon systems that are slow, unreliable or difficult to use. Damini Sood, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 But weak charging infrastructure, limited and unreliable electricity supply outside major cities, and high financing costs could constrain widespread adoption on the continent, even as investors race to build out infrastructure. Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 With no clear evidence and an unreliable witness, a community governed by customary law must preserve peace without sacrificing another child. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 29 June 2026 While California’s seven-day grace period for mail ballots has contributed to slow tabulations, it has not been shown to trigger fraud or unreliable vote counts. Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unreliable

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1810, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unreliable was in 1810

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Cite this Entry

“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unreliable. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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