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.
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Recent Examples of unreliable
Such thematic complications present themselves, though in a confounding order, with unreliable consistency.
—
Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
The latter approach, often based on mass scraping of the internet, is already producing American chatbots with false and unreliable results, including the parroting of Chinese Communist Party propaganda in response to consumer queries.
—Ruth Vitale, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
Aiding Ukraine has already begun to be a controversial subject in Poland; the prospect of Russian attacks in retaliation could drive up opposition, especially if the United States proves unreliable.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
The Denver Post does not report off of police radio traffic, which can be unreliable.
—The Denver Post, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
The latter approach, often based on mass scraping of the internet, is already producing American chatbots with false and unreliable results, including the parroting of Chinese Communist Party propaganda in response to consumer queries.
—Ruth Vitale, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
Aiding Ukraine has already begun to be a controversial subject in Poland; the prospect of Russian attacks in retaliation could drive up opposition, especially if the United States proves unreliable.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
The Denver Post does not report off of police radio traffic, which can be unreliable.
—The Denver Post, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
-
Between February and May, when Dudek’s tenure ended, his erratic rhetoric and decisions routinely made front-page news.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Dyrdhal knew all too well Gooden’s penchant for erratic violence.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The feature, designed to steady shaky footage, became a lifeline for people with Parkinson’s.—
Bill Schiffmiller,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Though the Administration likely had numerous gripes about Sherald’s reimagining of what is maybe the most recognizable American symbol, the controversy demonstrates the shaky future of trans art.—
Grace Byron,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For an island whose economy has long wrestled with the effects and aftershocks of natural disasters, fiscal crises, and inconsistent tourism, this is a very significant boost.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
All of these changes lead to reduced and inconsistent blood flow within your blood vessels and may increase the likelihood of blood clots.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 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
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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
-
Women are greedy, untrustworthy, weak and inferior, these influencers say.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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Trump is pressuring Powell to cut interest rates in hopes of lowering borrowing costs, and his allies have highlighted cost overruns to suggest that Powell is untrustworthy or should be removed from his position.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Charleston’s unpredictable climate means summer can stretch well into October, then randomly resurface in January.—
Jenn Rice,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
With recent polls showing Mamdani leading his rivals by double digits, the intersection of Hochul’s pragmatism, Mamdani’s outreach, and the powerful symbolism of their evolving relationship promises a uniquely unpredictable contest for New York’s future.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet last week’s warning from Jet2, a business respected for its cost control and excellent customer service, has served as a reminder that, for all the impressive growth of recent years, this remains a volatile and sometimes unpredictable sector.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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While any single month can be volatile and revisions can further change our understanding, hiring ground to a halt in May and June in the uncertain aftermath of the Liberation Day tariff announcements.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The situation at home was unstable.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Companies that lean too far in one direction risk either frustrating users with delays or damaging trust with unstable or inaccurate outputs.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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