inconsistent

adjective

in·​con·​sis·​tent ˌin-kən-ˈsi-stənt 

: lacking consistency: such as

a

: not compatible with another fact or claim

inconsistent statements

b

: containing incompatible elements

an inconsistent argument

c

: incoherent or illogical in thought or actions : changeable

d

: not satisfiable by the same set of values for the unknowns

inconsistent equations

inconsistent inequalities

inconsistently adverb

Synonyms

• clashing
• conflicting
• disagreeing
• discordant
• discrepant
• incompatible
• incongruous
• inconsonant
• inharmonious
• mutually exclusive
• repugnant

Examples of inconsistent in a Sentence

Customers have been complaining about the inconsistent service they have received.

The pain has been inconsistent.

Her grades have been inconsistent this school year.

Their descriptions of the accident were inconsistent.

The results of the two experiments were inconsistent.

The decision was inconsistent with the company's policy.

Recent Examples on the Web

And of all the problems behind that inconsistent output, Ohtani’s extended slide offensively has become particularly glaring, with his batting average dropping from .364 on May 15 to .321 at the end of play Tuesday. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024

Daniels and Cohen both admitted to making prior inconsistent statements. —Barbara McQuade, TIME, 29 May 2024

More than hearts and minds lost to brutality, internal rot and infighting — fed by the West’s profligate spending and inconsistent strategy — explain the republic’s collapse. —Matthieu Aikins Victor J. Blue Peter Ganim Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 22 May 2024

Nike has further been hurt by its recent investment in direct-to-consumer sales that have yielded inconsistent results. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 15 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

inconsistent

adjective

in·​con·​sis·​tent ˌin-kən-ˈsis-tənt 

1

: not being in agreement or harmony : incompatible

an explanation inconsistent with the facts

2

: not logical or regular in thought or actions : changeable

a very inconsistent person

inconsistently adverb