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unreliably

unreliably

1 4.4
In a way you cannot trust to be correct or the same each time
  • adverb
  • /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbli/
translation icon : de manera poco fiable
  • Such tests effectively capitalize on chance to produce significance levels that are artificially and unreliably high.

Examples

  • If you use the wrong rifle powder in the AR, it will perform unreliably.

    Blog text (26)
  • Trained but inexperienced "combat troops" may individually act unpredictably and unreliably.

    Blog text (1)
  • From the viewpoint of a sociologist or criminologist, the amount of time that an accused spends in various parts of the system is often either absent or unreliably documented in the official records.

    Academic text (1997)
  • This tendency, which is more problematic when variables are unreliably measured, may partially explain some of the improvement in psychiatric symptoms among clients who were highly symptomatic at baseline.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The weather forecast was unreliably predicting sunshine, but it ended up raining all day.

  • He made unreliably vague promises about when he would finish the project.

  • I found the online reviews to be unreliably inconsistent, making it hard to decide.

Synonyms

unpredictably
vsunreliably
4 4.8

In a way you cannot guess before it happens

is about failing to be accurate or steady rather than only being erratic
inconsistently
vsunreliably
3 4.1

In a way that is not the same each time

means not providing accurate or steady performance rather than only irregularity
untrustworthily
vsunreliably
8.1

In a dishonest or unreliable way

is about being unable to provide accurate or steady results
undependably
vsunreliably
6.6

In a way that cannot be trusted to work

focuses on failing to give accurate or steady outcomes

Antonyms

33 2.5

In a way you can trust to work or happen

How Reliable

sporadically
13 6.5
unreliably
1 4.4
erratically
13 6.4

Surface Forms

unreliably positive
unreliablier comparative
unreliablest superlative

Morphology

unreliably = unreliable (transparent) = un + rely + able + ly

Formed by adding the adverbial suffix '-ly' to 'unreliable'; the meaning 'in an unreliable manner' is directly derived.

Etymology

Unreliably starts with un-, meaning 'not', and the part rely means 'depend on' or 'trust', as in reliable. So, unreliably means 'in a way you cannot trust' or 'not consistently'.