unreliable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'unreliable' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this word to describe someone or something that cannot be trusted to perform in the way you expect. For example: "My car has been unreliable lately; I'm not sure when it will be safe to drive again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

Books

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wearable technology offers further feedback on the 'facts' of wellbeing, while people are increasingly viewed as unreliable narrators of their own lives.

The Guardian

"I'm not going to characterize them as reliable or unreliable," he said.

The Guardian

Memory is a strange and unreliable thing, shaped often by a vignette, captured in a scent, a sound, a shard of emotion rather than factual detail.

The Guardian - Opinion

Such critics plainly think Mr Farage is too divisive and unreliable to deliver a majority to get the UK out of Europe in a referendum.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the mid-1970s, electrinity in rural China was scarce and unreliable, with less than half of the country hooked up to the grid.

The Guardian

29 June 2011: Independent forensic report ordered by the appeals court finds much of the DNA evidence used to convict Knox and Sollecito is unreliable.

The Guardian

The state's supreme court rejected a last-ditch appeal by Davis's lawyers over the 1989 murder of off-duty policeman Mark MacPhail, despite overwhelming evidence that the conviction is unreliable.

The Guardian

Though national data on police shootings is unreliable, a 2013 study estimated that at least half of all people shot and killed by US police have mental health problems.

The Guardian

That memory, like so much else, is now fading in middle age, becoming limited to a means of recalling what I've read, but an otherwise unreliable, even capricious, tool for much else.

The Guardian - Sport

The doctors conclude: "HIAs, as carried out by IHMS, are not fit for purpose and unreliable.

The Guardian

In other words, these are crude estimates based on unreliable data – and several years out of date.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a person as "unreliable", provide specific examples of their behavior to support your assessment and avoid generalizations.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the degree of unreliability. Instead of stating something is completely "unreliable" across all situations, specify the contexts in which it lacks dependability.

Linguistic Context

The word "unreliable" primarily functions as an adjective. It is used to describe a noun, indicating that the noun in question cannot be depended upon or trusted to perform consistently. Ludwig AI confirms that the usage of "unreliable" follows standard grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Opinion

10%

Books

5%

Less common in

Sport

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unreliable" functions as an adjective used to describe something or someone that cannot be trusted or depended upon. Ludwig AI confirms that the use of this word is grammatically correct, commonly found in news, opinion pieces, and books. While suitable for various registers, it tends toward neutral and professional contexts, where it serves to express concerns about dependability, consistency, or trustworthiness. When using "unreliable", it's important to provide context to the degree of unreliability to avoid overgeneralizations. Considering alternatives such as "undependable", "flaky", or "inconsistent" can provide nuanced precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not dependable

Focuses on the lack of ability to be depended upon.

not trustworthy

Emphasizes a lack of integrity and honesty.

cannot be relied upon

A more formal way of expressing a lack of reliability.

fails to deliver consistently

Highlights the inconsistent performance and output.

prone to failure

Emphasizes a high likelihood of not succeeding or malfunctioning.

gives no guarantees

Highlights the absence of assurance or certainty.

unpredictable performance

Focuses on the inability to foresee how something will function.

erratic behavior

Highlights the inconsistent and often unexpected actions.

undependable nature

Stresses the inherent lack of reliability as a characteristic.

inconsistent track record

Points to a history of varying levels of performance.

FAQs

How can I use "unreliable" in a sentence?

You can use "unreliable" to describe something or someone that cannot be trusted or depended on. For example, "The old car was "unreliable" and often broke down."

What's a better word to use instead of "unreliable"?

Depending on the context, you could use words like "undependable", "flaky", or "inconsistent" as alternatives to "unreliable".

What is the difference between "unreliable" and "unpredictable"?

"Unreliable" means not dependable or trustworthy, while "unpredictable" means not able to be foreseen or known beforehand. Something "unreliable" might fail to work, while something "unpredictable" may be erratic but not necessarily non-functional.

Is it correct to say someone is "unreliable"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to describe someone as "unreliable" to indicate that they are not dependable or consistent in their actions or commitments.