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
In the letter, Jaworski and the finance leaders warned aldermen their proposals to cut and add revenue were based on unreliable numbers.
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Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The title is a reference to the unreliable mechanical shark, nicknamed Bruce by director Steven Spielberg.
—John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Defense attorneys argue that the traumatic nature of the incident, combined with Rosa's age, made his statements unreliable.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Those who remain endure unreliable electricity, collapsing public services, high crime and chronic shortages in hospitals and schools.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unreliable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreliable
Adjective
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These large waves can be erratic and unpredictable.—
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The addiction eventually took its toll, and Chase became more erratic and difficult to work with.—
Adjective
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Still, the 11-year veteran has been shaky down the stretch.—
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The Dolphins and Cardinals are resetting this offseason, at least to some extent, and the quarterbacks’ futures are on shaky soil.—
Adjective
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The company says the system aims to tackle persistent challenges in the hospitality industry, including labor shortages, inconsistent drink quality, and long service times.—
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In some cases, CBS News ran images through AI detection tools, which can be inconsistent or inaccurate but can still help flag possibly manipulated content.—
Adjective
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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.—
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Food, water and other resources would have to be shipped from home, at distances that make the supply frighteningly undependable.—
Adjective
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Zermatt has earned its reputation for untrustworthy weather – the valley can get completely socked in at any time of year.—
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Audio recordings previously obtained by the Observer and other news outlets featured McFadden berating staff, calling them untrustworthy and calling a white captain a racial slur.—
Adjective
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Austin immigration advocates have argued that similar changes in Austin, and a lack of clarification from the police department on its policy, sends a message that contact with officers — even as a victim or witness — carries unpredictable risks for immigrant families.—
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The occurrence of abdominal pain is often unpredictable and can change over time.—
Adjective
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Key's Jerry is a disruption through and through, knocking everything just a little off-kilter with each volatile appearance.—
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Paul Weller is still a godlike figure, but the Jam themselves had a really distinct chemistry and sounded very volatile onstage and are among the great punk groups.—
Adjective
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On Monday morning, the Sierra Avalanche Center reported that the recent storm was beginning to wind down, but warned that avalanche risks remained elevated due to strong winds and unstable snow.—
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The last two drafts are starting to come together, specifically the 2023 group, to form a foundation that can keep the need for relying on the unstable free-agent market to a slightly lower level.—
Cite this Entry
“Unreliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreliable. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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