as in randomly
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method
the police officer pulled over the driver, who had been spotted driving very erratically
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Recent Examples of erratically
They’re often wrapped in rain and move erratically.
—
Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2026
The four suspects, aged 17, 18 and 19, were arrested in the vicinity of another synagogue after a vehicle that was driving erratically drew the attention of authorities.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
Within the department, Noem’s ouster was celebrated by some who viewed her as a self-promoter who ran the department erratically.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
However, this is not the first time in recent months that Spears has allegedly gotten behind the wheel of her BMW, possibly after drinking too much, and driven erratically.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors said Clarke-Samuel had been drinking alcohol at a bar in central London, and drove his BMW erratically at around 70 mph (112 kilometers per hour) before the crash, running six red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The suspect fled the scene in a white SUV and entered the southbound 5 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley, reaching speeds of more than 100 miles per hour at times and driving erratically.
—Cbs La Staff, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Her boss behaves erratically and cruelly, the house has strange rules and Millie is forced to sleep in a small, locked attic room.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
That confrontation began when Felver was forced to a stop after driving erratically.
—Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026
Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2026
The four suspects, aged 17, 18 and 19, were arrested in the vicinity of another synagogue after a vehicle that was driving erratically drew the attention of authorities.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
Within the department, Noem’s ouster was celebrated by some who viewed her as a self-promoter who ran the department erratically.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
However, this is not the first time in recent months that Spears has allegedly gotten behind the wheel of her BMW, possibly after drinking too much, and driven erratically.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors said Clarke-Samuel had been drinking alcohol at a bar in central London, and drove his BMW erratically at around 70 mph (112 kilometers per hour) before the crash, running six red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The suspect fled the scene in a white SUV and entered the southbound 5 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley, reaching speeds of more than 100 miles per hour at times and driving erratically.
—Cbs La Staff, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Her boss behaves erratically and cruelly, the house has strange rules and Millie is forced to sleep in a small, locked attic room.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
That confrontation began when Felver was forced to a stop after driving erratically.
—Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erratically
randomly
Adverb
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Will Arnett appears in the last two episodes as an unorthodox — think Judd Hirsch in Ordinary People, only less Jewish — New York City shrink whose attractiveness everybody randomly comments on, almost-but-not-quite saving the urban portions of those episodes.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
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Half were randomly assigned to eat a daily cup of mango and a daily cup of avocado, while the other half ate different foods that provided the same number of calories.—
Currie Engel,
Health,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Erratically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erratically. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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