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
Instead, Starlink is usually more popular in rural areas, where traditional broadband options are limited or unreliable.
—
Michael Kan, PCMAG, 17 Jan. 2025
The transit agency president announced his retirement Monday in a CTA news release, after years in the hot seat as riders complained about unreliable service, conditions on trains and buses and concerns about personal safety.
—Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
This begrudging process, however, can be unreliable due to factors like serving time, lack of parking, or noisy customers.
—Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
Puerto Ricans, who already pay twice as much for electricity as those in the U.S. mainland, are now paying more for unreliable service provided by an antiquated and patched-up electrical grid.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unreliable 
Michael Kan, PCMAG, 17 Jan. 2025
The transit agency president announced his retirement Monday in a CTA news release, after years in the hot seat as riders complained about unreliable service, conditions on trains and buses and concerns about personal safety.
—Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
This begrudging process, however, can be unreliable due to factors like serving time, lack of parking, or noisy customers.
—Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
Puerto Ricans, who already pay twice as much for electricity as those in the U.S. mainland, are now paying more for unreliable service provided by an antiquated and patched-up electrical grid.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
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Biden appeared unsteady, his responses erratic, his voice a hoarse whisper.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
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The mountains can also make the winds more erratic because additional whirls of wind, known as wind eddies, can form as the air moves across the peaks and through the canyons.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Sanchez’s distribution remains extremely shaky, and there were more loose passes and kicks out of play under City pressure as Chelsea failed to manage their early lead.—
Sam Lee,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
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With a thousand-yard stare and shaky words, Fisher recalled watching his best friend get beaten to death and his sister-in-law beaten within an inch of her life.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Normally, going back in time introduces all sorts of nasty paradoxes, like the infamous grandfather paradox, or, less violently, inconsistent histories.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
25 Jan. 2025
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The police asked him about what appeared to be cuts on his right hand, and Mr. Cady gave inconsistent explanations, the authorities said.—
Simon J. Levien,
New York Times,
25 Jan. 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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Instead of negotiating with an untrustworthy, unpredictable and poorly governed U.S., other countries are going to start looking for ways to minimize contact with and dependence on us.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
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And what if others trust people who are untrustworthy? Between the lines: Name the last time Democrats drove the dominant narrative on social media or even traditional media.—
Axios,
Axios,
10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Aside from the ingenious creation of Moretti and his occasionally unpredictable behavior, the film fails at creating interesting characters, deploying suspense, and even delivering some cheap thrills.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
28 Jan. 2025
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And is the finale as unpredictable as the footage leads us to believe?—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But, looking at a slightly longer period, the increase in MMM stock over the last four-year period has been far from consistent, with annual returns being more volatile than the S&P 500.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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Trump has pledged to hand management of his assets to his children, but ethics experts have criticized his crypto ventures as raising conflict of interest issues and stoking speculation in a volatile asset class.—
Tom Westbrook,
USA TODAY,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Park rangers at Death Valley National Park in California rescued a man who got stranded in a steep and unstable gully, the National Park Service said Sunday.—
Kierra Frazier,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2025
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But then he got trapped when the canyon became steep and unstable, park officials said.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacramento Bee,
20 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unreliable
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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