UNRELIABLE Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

unreliable

adjective

as in erratic

likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly I wouldn't count on him to show up for the play—he's pretty unreliable. She drives her car locally, but worries it's too unreliable for longer trips.

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of unreliable Paul Baran needed someone to prove that his big idea — the one that could save the country from its massively unreliable communications systems in the event of an attack — could actually work. —

Laura Isensee, Scientific American, 18 May 2026 Decades of war wiped out much of its fighting population and forced it to depend on unreliable allies, triggering its eventual decline. —

Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 18 May 2026 The unknowns of a new virus outbreak, coupled with an influx of sometimes unreliable information, can generate fear, dread and anxiety. —

Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026 The College Football Playoff was supposed to provide some certainty in a sport that, for too long, based its rewards on unreliable polls. —

Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for unreliable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable

Adjective

Price Outlook Cotton prices continued to move higher over the past month, but the pattern has become more erratic.

— SJ Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
Technology cycles are shorter, markets are more erratic and competition is becoming more worldwide.

— Raheel Sheikh, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026