Unreliable — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌən-ri-ˈlī-ə-bəl/ un·re·li·able

Meaning & Definition of Unreliable

Unreliable (adjective)

  1. not reliable, undependable, untrustworthy

Unreliable (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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."

    similar: dicey, undependable, untrustworthy, aimless, arbitrary, desultory, erratic, haphazard, hit-or-miss, irregular, random, scattered, slapdash, stray, ambivalent, hesitating, shaky, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillating, wavering, capricious, changeable, changeful, fickle, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconsistent, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, skittish, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, volatile
    opposite: dependable, reliable, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty, abiding, durable, lasting, permanent, persistent, certain, changeless, constant, immutable, invariable, predictable, settled, stable, stationary, steady, unchangeable, unchanging, unvarying, equable, even, uniform

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Unreliable

The most common words with a similar meaning to Unreliable:

dicey, undependable, untrustworthy, aimless, arbitrary, desultory, erratic, haphazard, hit-or-miss, irregular, random, scattered, slapdash, stray, ambivalent, hesitating, shaky, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillating, wavering, capricious, changeable, changeful, fickle, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconsistent, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, skittish, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Unreliable

Words with the opposite meaning of Unreliable:

dependable, reliable, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty, abiding, durable, lasting, permanent, persistent, certain, changeless, constant, immutable, invariable, predictable, settled, stable, stationary, steady, unchangeable, unchanging, unvarying, equable, even, uniform

Word Forms of Unreliable

Derived words: unreliability (noun), unreliably (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Unreliable

First known use: 1810

Frequently Asked Questions about Unreliable

What does "Unreliable" mean?

"Unreliable" means not reliable, undependable, untrustworthy. As an adjective, it is defined as: not reliable, undependable, untrustworthy.

What is another word for "Unreliable"?

Other words for "Unreliable" include dicey, undependable, untrustworthy, aimless, arbitrary, desultory, erratic and haphazard. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Unreliable" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Unreliable"?

There are 41 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Unreliable". Common alternatives include dicey, undependable, untrustworthy, aimless, arbitrary, desultory, erratic, haphazard, hit-or-miss and irregular.

What is the opposite of "Unreliable"?

Antonyms of "Unreliable" include dependable, reliable, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy and trusty.

How do you use "Unreliable" in a sentence?

Examples of "Unreliable" in a sentence: "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.".

Is "Unreliable" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Unreliable" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Unreliable"?

"Unreliable" is pronounced /ˌən-ri-ˈlī-ə-bəl/ and divided into syllables as un·re·li·able.

What is the origin of the word "Unreliable"?

First known use: 1810.