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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unreliable
The amendment is based on unreliable data that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration itself estimated to be off by 30 to 40 percent.
—
Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
The cooling system in her second-story apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had always been unreliable.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 21 May 2025
This showed that changes in the truck's speed produced turbulence in the liquid helium, making measurements of its presence unreliable.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
To counter this risk, the Kremlin has accelerated its efforts to transition to a new model of political and social control and replace the most unreliable segments of the political and business elite with loyalists personally tied to Putin.
—Andrei Yakovlev, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
The cooling system in her second-story apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had always been unreliable.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 21 May 2025
This showed that changes in the truck's speed produced turbulence in the liquid helium, making measurements of its presence unreliable.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
To counter this risk, the Kremlin has accelerated its efforts to transition to a new model of political and social control and replace the most unreliable segments of the political and business elite with loyalists personally tied to Putin.
—Andrei Yakovlev, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
-
According to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, the team's complaint is due to erratic driving behind the safety car and not leaving an appropriate gap.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
-
And some erratic vibrations were detected at points last week as the stark outperformance of year-to-date laggards over the top 2025 performers prompted some comparisons to the nasty momentum-stock reversal of February and March that upset the market well before the tariff panic.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
The economic outlook has been shaky this year for recent graduates and others searching for employment opportunities, and may be shakier still after a slowdown in job growth last month.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
6 June 2025
-
Following a shaky tenure with the Denver Broncos, Wilson found himself on the Pittsburg Steelers last season in hopes of reviving his career.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Royals’ offense has been inconsistent this season.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2025
-
Wolfe testified during the first trial, which ended with a deadlocked jury, that damage to Read's SUV is inconsistent with a collision involving O'Keefe.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
But while the stock market is often a fickle friend, as are commodities such as oil and natural gas, wheat and corn, part of what was so shocking in 2022 was the simultaneous slump in government and corporate bonds, which proved as undependable as stocks.—
,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Food, water and other resources would have to be shipped from home, at distances that make the supply frighteningly undependable.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
The humor of the books is darker and drier, partly because it comes filtered entirely through the perspective of a cyborg that views humanity as inherently untrustworthy and violence as a frustrating but useful chore.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
-
This makes the administration seem like a particularly untrustworthy locus for a registry to track autistic people.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Entrepreneurs who want to survive must meet our current reality by staying as flexible as the market is unpredictable.—
Cynthia Pong,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
-
Netflix offers premium, brand-safe content in a streaming environment that’s becoming increasingly fragmented and unpredictable.—
Shannon Carroll,
Quartz,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
The fire had to feel alive, volatile, and credible—a force the actors had to confront in real time.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
4 June 2025
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The Behavioral Finance Connection When the market’s volatile, fear drives behavior.—
Meredith Moore,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Because the Sun’s magnetic field is especially unstable and dynamic near the solar poles, particularly the south pole, a good, hard look can pay dividends that will protect us here on Earth.—
David Szondy
June 15,
New Atlas,
15 June 2025
-
The lawsuit alleges Saffold was unstable during the procedure, and the anesthesiologist and nurse failed to give him proper medical intervention to save his life.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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