Synonyms of erratic

erratic

adjective

i-ˈra-tik 

1

as in random

lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern

so far your effort to land a summer job has been very erratic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• random
• scattered
• arbitrary
• sporadic
• haphazard
• stray
• accidental
• lucky
• aimless
• slapdash
• desultory
• irregular
• casual
• odd
• contingent
• hit-or-miss
• chance
• helter-skelter
• catch-as-catch-can
• inadvertent
• unintentional
• fortuitous
• unplanned
• shotgun
• incidental
• unsystematic
• spot
• directionless
• indiscriminate
• unpremeditated
• unintended
• purposeless
• scattershot
• disorganized
• flukey
• unconsidered
• chancy
• disorderly
• fluky
• undirected
• unselective
• undiscriminating
• objectless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• regular
• systematic
• regular
• orderly
• steady
• methodical
• constant
• stable
• continuous
• fixed
• organized
• nonrandom
• methodic
• established
• even
• arranged
• systematized
• set
• aware
• deliberate
• conscious
• planned
• wilful
• purposeful
• thoughtful
• ordered
• managed
• willful
• orchestrated

2

as in sporadic

lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence

because of your erratic attendance at practice, you're in danger of being cut from the team

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sporadic
• occasional
• intermittent
• sudden
• unpredictable
• irregular
• unsteady
• violent
• discontinuous
• spasmodic
• spastic
• fitful
• casual
• volatile
• spotty
• episodic
• choppy
• aperiodic
• episodical
• random
• haphazard
• catchy
• scattered
• fragmentary
• changing
• interrupted
• unstable
• uncertain
• changeful
• varying
• aimless
• convulsive
• capricious
• arbitrary
• disconnected
• stray
• broken
• mercurial
• odd
• temperamental
• fluctuating
• unsettled
• desultory
• inconstant
• variable
• hit-and-miss
• hit-or-miss
• slapdash
• fickle
• mutable
• changeable
• fluid
• wavering
• flickery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuous
• constant
• periodic
• regular
• steady
• habitual
• stable
• uniform
• repeated
• stationary
• even
• systematic
• unchanging
• orderly
• equable
• methodical
• changeless
• unrelenting
• unvarying
• unremitting
• unwavering
• methodic

3

as in changing

not staying constant

business at the fast-food restaurant has been so erratic lately that the manager never knows how much staff to have on hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• changing
• uneven
• varying
• unstable
• volatile
• inconsistent
• unequal
• changeful
• irregular
• unsteady
• fluctuating
• variable
• uncertain
• capricious
• mercurial
• fickle
• unsettled
• changeable
• fluid
• inconstant
• choppy
• mutable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• constant
• steady
• stable
• regular
• unchanging
• unvarying
• changeless

4

as in bizarre

different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion

the animal's erratic behavior made her wonder if it was ill

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bizarre
• strange
• odd
• weird
• funny
• peculiar
• curious
• eccentric
• crazy
• remarkable
• unusual
• abnormal
• quirky
• screwy
• outlandish
• wacky
• whacky
• unique
• wild
• off-the-wall
• funky
• offbeat
• unconventional
• uncommon
• kinky
• kooky
• way-out
• outré
• out-of-the-way
• outrageous
• quaint
• cranky
• rare
• off-kilter
• fantastical
• extraordinary
• queer
• far-out
• flaky
• queerish
• weirdo
• spaced-out
• kookie
• rum
• aberrant
• freakish
• bizarro
• outstanding
• noticeable
• shocking
• fantastic
• atypical
• conspicuous
• phenomenal
• freak
• idiosyncratic
• freaky
• striking
• prominent
• phantasmagoric
• notable
• perplexing
• salient
• puzzling
• atrocious
• baffling
• singular
• unwonted
• phantasmagorical
• unorthodox
• confounding
• out-there
• bewildering
• uncustomary
• mystifying
• crotchety
• nonconformist
• addlepated
• nonmainstream

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• normal
• usual
• average
• typical
• ordinary
• standard
• routine
• prosaic
• everyday
• commonplace
• conventional
• garden
• conservative
• unremarkable
• predictable
• unexceptional
• familiar
• frequent
• workaday
• regular
• run-of-the-mill
• expected
• common
• habitual
• conformist
• customary
• knee-jerk
• wonted

Synonym Chooser

How is the word erratic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of erratic are eccentric, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is eccentric a more appropriate choice than erratic?

The words eccentric and erratic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When can odd be used instead of erratic?

The meanings of odd and erratic largely overlap; however, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When could outlandish be used to replace erratic?

The words outlandish and erratic can be used in similar contexts, but outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

Where would peculiar be a reasonable alternative to erratic?

Although the words peculiar and erratic have much in common, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

In what contexts can quaint take the place of erratic?

While in some cases nearly identical to erratic, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When might singular be a better fit than erratic?

In some situations, the words singular and erratic are roughly equivalent. However, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When would strange be a good substitute for erratic?

While the synonyms strange and erratic are close in meaning, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When is it sensible to use unique instead of erratic?

The synonyms unique and erratic are sometimes interchangeable, but unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of erratic

So having this sort of erratic personality is probably a more damaging brand attribute than helping the government try to save money on federal employees. —A Martínez, NPR, 31 Mar. 2025

At that point, the quartet was adjusting to life after Syd Barrett, the frontman whose songs had positioned his group as one of England’s preeminent psychedelic bands before his erratic behavior prompted Pink Floyd to fire him. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2025

Screen time can result in overstimulation and a lack of human interaction, which leads to attention issues and erratic behavior. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025

In the year before she was killed, Mary had called BSO 14 times regarding Nathan’s threats and increasingly erratic behavior, according to a log of BSO calls that the Herald reviewed. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025