1
as in conflicting
not being in agreement or harmony
inconsistent theories make it difficult to settle on one explanation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
an inconsistent breeze was our only relief from the heat
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inconsistent
Todd said advocacy groups provided inconsistent numbers — from two to 11 — regarding how many states have mandatory life without parole, without exception, for felony murder.
—
Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
With its wide acres, rural areas and inconsistent weather patterns, Oklahoma is prone to grass fires.
—Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 26 Mar. 2026
Unsuccessful shots, by contrast, were much more inconsistent, showing small fluctuations throughout the movement.
—David Van Den Heever, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Yet if the denial of a driver’s license is based on such arbitrary factors as a victim’s advocacy, or a defendant’s remorse, or public opinion, or the whims of state bureaucrats, the results are inconsistent.
—Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inconsistent
Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
With its wide acres, rural areas and inconsistent weather patterns, Oklahoma is prone to grass fires.
—Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 26 Mar. 2026
Unsuccessful shots, by contrast, were much more inconsistent, showing small fluctuations throughout the movement.
—David Van Den Heever, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Yet if the denial of a driver’s license is based on such arbitrary factors as a victim’s advocacy, or a defendant’s remorse, or public opinion, or the whims of state bureaucrats, the results are inconsistent.
—Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inconsistent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inconsistent
Adjective
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But among those who are slated to speak are big names in the MAGA movement who have voiced conflicting views on the Iran war.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
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The quarterly rollover—which wipes out close to 40% of open positions on the dominant Deribit exchange—comes amid conflicting signals on the prospect of a halt to the nearly month-long war in the Middle East.—
Sidhartha Shukla,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The comparison isn't perfect — stock data spans decades, while trends in trading card values are shorter and more volatile — but the outperformance in certain windows is still striking.—
Brandon Gomez,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
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These volatile, double-digit voting shifts directly contrast more stable voting patterns among other major demographic groups, including the Black and white electorates, where shifts from cycle to cycle tend to be just a few points.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Prices are subject to rapid, unpredictable changes due to factors like, but not limited to, supply/demand, weather, and geopolitical events.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Air travelers are paying the price of the shutdown with unpredictable, snaking TSA lines at airports across the country, jeopardizing their chances to pass through security on time for their flights.—
Graham Hurley,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Weak—or even nonexistent—overnight freezes have left the snowpack soft and unstable early in the day, limiting the window for safe travel.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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But sometime between 100 million and 200 million years ago, the moon's orbit became unstable, and a series of gravitational interactions sent Chrysalis on a fatal, grazing encounter with Saturn.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inconsistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inconsistent. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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