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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unreliable
Baltimore-area transit riders are asking state lawmakers to consider more funding to improve the region's transit system, which many find to be unreliable and too infrequent for their needs.
—
Natalie Jones, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025
After all she’s been through—including contemplating bankruptcy following losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to unreliable factories in 2020—not many setbacks phase her anymore.
—Amelia Arvesen, Outside Online, 28 Jan. 2025
The dossier, gathered by a young researcher and written by Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer, was indirectly funded by the Clinton campaign, and it has since been discredited as unreliable gossip and speculation.
—Charlie Savage, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Poor data quality can lead to biased or unreliable results, eroding trust in the technology.
—Daniel Fallmann, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unreliable 
Natalie Jones, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025
After all she’s been through—including contemplating bankruptcy following losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to unreliable factories in 2020—not many setbacks phase her anymore.
—Amelia Arvesen, Outside Online, 28 Jan. 2025
The dossier, gathered by a young researcher and written by Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer, was indirectly funded by the Clinton campaign, and it has since been discredited as unreliable gossip and speculation.
—Charlie Savage, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Poor data quality can lead to biased or unreliable results, eroding trust in the technology.
—Daniel Fallmann, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
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The fallout comes after the 47-year-old’s erratic and offensive antisemitic behavior.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
12 Feb. 2025
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Kanye West bought a 30-second local television spot on Sunday night that played only in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Atlanta during the Super Bowl to promote his Yeezy fashion brand, bringing more scrutiny about his erratic and antisemitic behavior.—
Heather Hunter,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Their intimate knowledge of artistic symbiosis adds a poignant underlay to Hawke and Linklater’s reunion on Blue Moon, a transfixing character study that X-rays the shaky skeleton of a creative partnership of comparable duration.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
18 Feb. 2025
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President Biden was fully expected to be the Democratic nominee until a shaky debate performance on June 27 caused many, even in his own party, to call for a new nominee.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Especially if his team is still so maddeningly inconsistent.—
Arthur Staple,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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Although Mitchell's overall output has been inconsistent in recent seasons, his defensive versatility has remained a major strength.—
Nathan Kamal,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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With fueling so expensive and stations so undependable, Kiskis — who lives in Pacific Palisades and works at Google in Playa Vista — drives a gasoline Jeep for everything but short trips around the neighborhood.—
Russ Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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The core advice from everyone is the same: don’t click on unsolicited links from strangers or untrustworthy sources.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
9 Jan. 2025
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In one of his final acts before leaving office, Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain put Osceola Sheriff Marcos Lopez on an official list of law enforcement officers deemed untrustworthy.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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And with President Donald Trump's tariff threats highlighting the risk of that dependence, the success of the $24 billion Trans Mountain expansion is stoking Canada's desire to further decouple from its unpredictable neighbor -- and play a larger role in global oil markets.—
Robert Tuttle Bloomberg News (WPNS),
arkansasonline.com,
9 Feb. 2025
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With its surprising best picture win at the Critics Choice Awards — its only prize of the night — the $6 million dramedy, which claimed the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, has solidified itself as a major contender in an unpredictable awards season.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Dado Ruvic | Reuters Inflation worries, tariffs under the Trump administration and earnings season could continue to keep the stock market volatile and rattle investor sentiment.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2025
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With Earth's weather being altered in dangerous ways, the U.S. government turns to Cody to uncover the truth behind these volatile natural disasters.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Is High in Antioxidants Orange juice is rich in healthy nutrients called antioxidants, compounds that help prevent cell damage from unstable molecules called free radical damage in a process known as oxidative stress.—
Aviv Joshua, MS,
Verywell Health,
11 Feb. 2025
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However, the ice was unstable and the search had to be suspended, troopers said.—
Sara Schilling,
Sacramento Bee,
10 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unreliable
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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