volatile

adjective

ˈvä-lə-tᵊl How to pronounce volatile (audio)
Definition of volatilenext
as in unpredictable
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly a boss of volatile moods is frustrating to work for

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of volatile Beehives contain volatile organic compounds like propolis, beeswax and honey esters, which can have soothing properties, according to health officials with the Cleveland Clinic. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026 Shares were volatile during early trading, with the stock initially opening about 3% lower. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026 The stock has been volatile since its debut, first trading up 49% in a matter of days, only to fall below the IPO price within just over a month. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Delicate electronics, fragile calibration tools or volatile medical supplies may require specialized qualification or shock-absorbing casings to withstand these forces. — Euihyeon Choi, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for volatile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volatile
  1. unpredictable
  2. unstable
  3. variable
  4. inconsistent
  5. changeful
  6. unsettled
  7. uncertain
Adjective
  • During the flight, crews are in constant communication with meteorological teams across the globe to track unpredictable weather patterns.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Within these spaces, designed to produce idealized performances of femininity, the unpredictable rhythms of postpartum life become a quiet act of disruption.
    — Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • No one sees exactly what happened, and the only witness, a mentally unstable man, gives conflicting accounts that deepen the uncertainty.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Events plod forward, one after the other, and although Michael Shaeffer is a thoroughly compelling presence as the cruel and chronically unstable monarch Aerys, other performances seem nuance-free.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of unstable
Adjective
  • By automating repetitive, physically demanding and highly variable tasks, intelligent robotics allows experienced people to focus on the work where their judgment and expertise create the greatest value.
    — Ariyan Kabir, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Just be cognizant of the variable rate as precise interest-earnings here are difficult to complete with precision as a number of factors could cause rates to rise or fall, particularly over an extended period.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of variable
Adjective
  • Because the measures in the judge's order are specific to users in New Mexico, experts say piecemeal rulings and inconsistent legislation at the state level could create a new crop of issues.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The two regular season games against Chicago provided a microcosm of Nixon’s inconsistent season.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of inconsistent
Adjective
  • Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Jan. 2023
  • Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.
    — Jordan Kisner Jack Davison, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2022
Definition of changeful
Adjective
  • Tuesday's Michigan Democratic Senate primary race remains unsettled, with progressive Abdul El-Sayed holding onto a narrow lead over moderate Haley Stevens with votes still being counted.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The weekend’s weather still looks unsettled with more chances for rain.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsettled
Adjective
  • Horse racing's Triple Crown faces an uncertain future as leading institutions pursue divergent strategies.
    — Nicole Kraft, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The economy feels so perpetually uncertain, fragile and contradictory that shifts in any direction feel really consequential.
    — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of uncertain

Browse Nearby Words

voids
volatile
volatileness
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volatile. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on volatile

Nglish: Translation of volatile for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All