unpredictable

Examples

• All

• Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainy seasons have hit them hard.

• Put simply, religious regimes are too unpredictable to be trusted with nuclear weapons.

  Academic text (2011)

• This past year has been a challenging, unpredictable time for our world.

• Some leave patients stable for long but unpredictable periods, while others get rapidly worse.

  Academic text (2011)

• Lockhart himself followed an unpredictable path to success in the film trade.

  Academic text (2008)

• "The rains are more and more unpredictable, starting late, ending early, or never arriving at all," said Heath.

  Academic text (2011)

• The effects of dementia are confusing, unpredictable, infuriating; sad, awful, funny.

  Academic text (2008)

• Interaction among components is nonlinear and can give rise to unpredictable responses.

  Academic text (2011)

• The weather in this region is often unpredictable, changing from sunny to rainy in minutes.

• Her moods can be quite unpredictable, making it hard to know how she'll react.

Synonyms

R

random

vsunpredictable

527 3.4

Happening without a plan and by chance

covers events caused by randomness as well as sudden shifts

U

uncertain

vsunpredictable

149 2.8

Not known for sure and likely to change

adds that events can arrive suddenly or at irregular times

E

erratic

vsunpredictable

94 6.1

Not regular or predictable and likely to change suddenly

is about lack of predictability rather than just odd behavior

U

unstable

vsunpredictable

80 4.4

Not steady and likely to change, fail, or fall

points to sudden changes in timing or occurrence rather than overall insecurity

V

volatile

vsunpredictable

77 7.0

Likely to change suddenly and become more dangerous

focuses on sudden change rather than danger or volatility

I

irregular

vsunpredictable

27 3.5

Happening at no fixed times

highlights sudden change and timing variability beyond simple unevenness

C

chaotic

vsunpredictable

• Specialized

9 7.2

A system where small changes cause very different results that are hard to predict

is ordinary lack of predictability, not specialized scientific sensitivity

U

unforeseeable

vsunpredictable

5 6.7

Impossible to know before it happens

emphasizes sudden timing and irregular occurrence as well as unpredictability

S

stochastic

vsunpredictable

• Specialized

4 9.9

Having events or results that happen by chance you cannot predict

is a plain description of not being able to be predicted

I

inconstant

vsunpredictable

2 7.5

Changing often and not staying the same

focuses on sudden timing and varied occurrence instead of mere frequency

U

unsettled

vsunpredictable

2 4.3

Weather that often changes, bringing rain or strong wind

emphasizes sudden or irregular timing more than general lack of fixity

A

aleatory

vsunpredictable

• Formal

9.9

Unpredictable because it depends on chance

is broader, covering sudden or irregular changes not only luck

I

indeterministic

vsunpredictable

• Specialized

9.2

Having no single predictable result because chance affects it

is a general lack of predictability including sudden timing changes

N

nondeterministic

vsunpredictable

• Specialized

9.1

A process that can give different results with the same input, often in computer science

is everyday lack of predictability, not limited to technical processes

N

nonpredictive

vsunpredictable

• Specialized

7.2

Not able to correctly say what will happen

is about sudden or irregular events rather than forecasting tools

U

unpredictive

vsunpredictable

• Specialized

7.8

Not able to tell what will happen next

describes the event quality of unpredictability rather than forecasting failure

C

chanceful

vsunpredictable

• Archaic

8.7

Likely to involve risk or an uncertain result

stresses sudden or irregular occurrence as part of lack of predictability

Antonyms

S

stable

473 2.3

Not likely to change and stays steady over time

P

predictable

189 2.5

Easy to guess what will happen

How Predictable

predictable

189 2.5

inconsistent

96 4.7

unpredictable

163 4.4

erratic

94 6.1

random

527 3.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology