1
as in adjustable
capable of being readily changed
a variable expense that we could reduce if we needed to
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
highly variable income from his job as a real estate agent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in variable star
Related Words
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 variable
Diane Hoskins, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2026
The facility is likely the only one in the world that can do full-load, bidirectional testing that simulates both grid conditions and variable data-center loads.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Apr. 2026
Dane Brugler, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Light Light exposure is the biggest variable for getting seeds to sprout.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for variable
Adjective
Those that continue to treat seating as a cost variable risk leaving something far more valuable on the table.
—Diane Hoskins, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2026
The facility is likely the only one in the world that can do full-load, bidirectional testing that simulates both grid conditions and variable data-center loads.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
But durability is the unknown variable in his projection.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Light Light exposure is the biggest variable for getting seeds to sprout.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for variable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for variable
Adjective
-
With adjustable straps, a smocked back, and a flattering silhouette, this linen midi immediately caught my eye.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
-
Consider adjustable-rate mortgages, too, and alternative loan terms like 20-year mortgages.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Following Maduro’s capture, Venezuela has entered a volatile and highly managed political transition, one shaped as much by Washington as by internal dynamics.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
-
By contrast, the Republican plan relies on one-off gimmicks and volatile funding schemes that don’t last.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Bradley Schaefer, an astronomer at Louisiana State University, focuses on cataclysmic variable stars, objects that vary in brightness over time due to some type of major turmoil.—
Liz Kruesi,
Quanta Magazine,
2 Feb. 2026
-
In another imaging campaign, API, assisted by AMIGO, was able to produce detailed images of a black hole jet, the volcanic surface of Jupiter's moon Io, and stellar winds emanating from a distant variable star.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Ubiquitous yet endlessly adaptable, the money plant integrates effortlessly into indoor settings while contributing to gentle transpiration.—
Nolan Lewis,
Architectural Digest,
27 Apr. 2026
-
However, deer are adaptable creatures and often get used to the tricks put in their path, eventually ignoring attempts to deter them, Walke says.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Known for his unpredictable, edgy behavior and fiery personality, Gritty has expanded the traditional boundaries of what a sports team mascot can be or do.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Special legislative sessions are unpredictable, and people on both sides say the Florida fight is far from over, with mistrust of the medical establishment still running high after the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Kerry Sheridan,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the center is a white dwarf, the dense, compact core of a dying star.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Morgan Giese, a physics and astronomy PhD candidate at Western, discovered the buckyballs are mostly surrounding the white dwarf in their own shell.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The result highlighted their potential for wearable electronics, lightweight power systems, and flexible solar applications.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
-
The booth combined a UR10e case‑packing cell, Vention’s modular conveyor system for product movement and accumulation and a UR20 palletizer, showing how collaborative robots and modular hardware can create flexible, easy‑to‑deploy packaging lines.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Once a star dies, there are a number of possible fates that can ensue as well, as a stellar corpse can remain as a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Apr. 2026
-
While the outer layers of a star explode outward, the innermost layers plunge inward, funneling a fraction of the star’s mass into the black hole (or neutron star if the star’s mass is too small).—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Variable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/variable. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
