as in unpredictable
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a boss of volatile moods is frustrating to work for
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of volatile
Emotions tend to run high at work, especially during VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) times.
—
Tracy Kennedy, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and fuel prices, rose 2.8%.
—Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Any storm could produce damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes, but some of the most volatile will be capable of more.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
In Haiti, there hasn’t been a general election in nearly a decade; more than a million have been displaced by armed gang violence and the country’s volatile capital is on the verge of collapse.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Tracy Kennedy, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and fuel prices, rose 2.8%.
—Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Any storm could produce damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes, but some of the most volatile will be capable of more.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
In Haiti, there hasn’t been a general election in nearly a decade; more than a million have been displaced by armed gang violence and the country’s volatile capital is on the verge of collapse.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for volatile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volatile
Adjective
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Fittingly, given the unpredictable nature of the campaign, who knows what the result or circumstances will be at Tottenham Hotspur on the day Hurzeler’s first season draws to a close?—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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Probably Not Complicating matters is that Trump’s trade policy is unpredictable.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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If someone is making credible threats or is mentally unstable, existing laws already allow for arrests, mental health evaluations, and emergency detentions—all of which come with constitutional safeguards.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
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This unstable dwelling, with its crumbling walls and lack of proper bedrooms for the children, comes to stand for a far more sinister lack of boundaries.—
Leslie Camhi,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Nvidia also confirmed that the 1080p 120hz screen in the Switch 2 is using G-Sync for its VRR (variable refresh rate) implementation, which is widely considered one of the best and most versatile implementations of VRR on the market.—
Oliver Brandt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
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The other major Nvidia technology supported by the new Switch is G-Sync, which prevents screen tearing when games are running at variable frame rates.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But without a strong messaging foundation, those pieces can feel scattered, inconsistent, or even contradictory.—
Rhea Wessel,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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His current form may be inconsistent at best, but Finau believes the best results of his career are still ahead of him.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.—
Jordan Kisner Jack Davison,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2022
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Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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However, territorial disputes between Beijing and Manila over the South China Sea remain unsettled, and their maritime forces continue to engage in standoffs or clashes, raising the specter of a future scenario that could draw the U.S. and China into conflict.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
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The future of the Democratic Party remains unsettled, but Sanders and his fellow-speakers haven’t given up hope for the progressive movement—and neither have the people who attended these hugely populated, wildly enthusiastic rallies across America.—
Erin Neil,
The New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Aside from the retroactive tariffs expected to be announced this afternoon by the White House, not only is the imposition of secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian highly uncertain, but their possible nature remains inscrutable.—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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And the partnership comes as TikTok’s future in the U.S. is uncertain.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volatile. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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