1
as in conflicting
not being in agreement or harmony
inconsistent theories make it difficult to settle on one explanation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
an inconsistent breeze was our only relief from the heat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inconsistent
Released Wednesday, Redesign Required: Lessons for Permanent Supportive Housing from Skid Row Housing Trust Buildings, concludes that low and inconsistent rental subsidies and other structural problems in L.A.’s homeless housing systems played a key role in the trust’s 2023 collapse.
—
Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025
Related article The world’s most powerful passports for 2025
‘Insufficient reasoning’
Africans have long complained about inconsistent, sometimes baffling decisions about who gets approved or denied while applying for European visas.
—Larry Madowo, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
Oilers’ power play comes up short The power play has been the Oilers’ bread and butter for so long, but it’s been inconsistent in the playoffs and downright nonexistent on the road.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 15 May 2025
SoftBank’s investment division can be inconsistent, as it is driven by changes in public and private financial markets.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inconsistent
Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025
Related article The world’s most powerful passports for 2025
‘Insufficient reasoning’
Africans have long complained about inconsistent, sometimes baffling decisions about who gets approved or denied while applying for European visas.
—Larry Madowo, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
Oilers’ power play comes up short The power play has been the Oilers’ bread and butter for so long, but it’s been inconsistent in the playoffs and downright nonexistent on the road.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 15 May 2025
SoftBank’s investment division can be inconsistent, as it is driven by changes in public and private financial markets.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inconsistent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inconsistent
Adjective
-
With the textured hair care space full of conflicting information, cutting through the noise is becoming more difficult than the routine itself.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
27 May 2025
-
Many participants with conflicting ideologies also reported cohabiting peacefully for the most part, while being careful not to bring up divisive topics and focus on their similarities instead.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
Other big miners, including archrivals BHP, Anglo American and Glencore, have steered clear of lithium, am important metal in batteries, but one which is also abundantly available puts suffers from extremely volatile pricing.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
Unlike volatile digital assets like bitcoin, the value of stablecoins is tied to a real-world asset like fiat currencies or commodities like gold.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Trump’s aggressive and unpredictable policies — including massive import taxes — have clouded the outlook for the economy as well as the job market and raised fears that the American economy is headed toward recession.—
Matt Ott,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
-
As federal environmental policy undergoes rapid and often unpredictable shifts through reversals, reinterpretations and sometimes outright dismantling, businesses are left navigating a compliance landscape that feels more like quicksand than solid ground.—
John F. McQuillan,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
Stage 1: In this stage, inflammation, as well as loose or unstable joints, is present.—
Isabel Casimiro,
Verywell Health,
22 May 2025
-
Unfortunately, modeling variations on this orbit through time indicated that 98 percent of them were unstable within 50 million years.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inconsistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inconsistent. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share