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Unreliable - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Unreliable means not able to be trusted or depended on. It describes someone or something that is inconsistent, unpredictable, or likely to fail in performance or accuracy.

unreliable

/ˌənrɪˈlaɪəbəl/ /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl/

Definition:

Not able to be trusted or depended on; likely to fail or disappoint.

Synonyms:

untrustworthy, inconsistent, erratic, undependable

Part of Speech:

adjective

Antonyms:

reliable, dependable, trustworthy

Common Collocations:

unreliable source, unreliable data, unreliable weather, unreliable narrator

Derivatives:

unreliability, unreliably

Usage Tips:

Use "unreliable" to describe people, information, or things that cannot be consistently trusted or counted on.

Common Phrases:

take with a grain of salt, fly-by-night, here today gone tomorrow

Etymology:

Derived from "un-" (not) + "reliable," which comes from Latin "reliabilis" (trustworthy).

Examples:

  • 1. The car's unreliable engine often breaks down unexpectedly.
  • 2. Her unreliable memory makes it hard to trust her stories.
  • 3. The weather forecast is unreliable during monsoon season.
  • 4. He’s an unreliable friend who often cancels plans last minute.

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