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 Payoneer said for Etsy sellers operating in volatile markets, the partnership is essential. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 Offshore, the more volatile side of the business, will not turn a profit in 2026. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 The team discovered that gas formation is driven by volatile oxygen reactions during charge cycles. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026 In volatile environments, effectiveness can mean limiting how often change interrupts execution. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 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
  • Conflict in mining regions, disputed licenses, slow permitting, and unpredictable enforcement have long deterred Western investors, while Chinese operators have been better able to absorb those risks.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Long Tiddie Short Story is unmistakably her — honest, unpredictable and incredibly funny.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • Climate scientists say as temperatures rise ⁠glaciers in the Himalayas retreat, leaving behind unstable glacial lakes held back by little more than loose rock and ice, above valleys home to millions.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Volcanoes National Park urged visitors to keep their distance from the unstable cliff edges to avoid putting themselves, or first responders, in danger.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of unstable
Adjective
  • As far as tech goes, the 377-footer has a trio of 900 kW variable-speed permanent-magnet generators running on HVO with fuel cells and a 5 MWh battery pack.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026
  • There’s now a dual-stage air-to-water charge cooler that lowers temperatures from the variable-geometry turbo.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of variable
Adjective
  • Even the actors’ bodies exhibit the bland greige produced by the high dynamic range of digital cameras and are flattened by the inconsistent lighting that comes from overuse of green screens.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In Finance​ Give agentic AI fragmented data, inconsistent processes or unclear ownership, and those weaknesses become part of how the technology operates.
    — Ari Widlansky, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 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
  • But key details of the new Medi-Cal requirements remained unsettled.
    — JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Why the Fourth Amendment matters The law remains unsettled on ALPR use.
    — Henry F. Fradella, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsettled
Adjective
  • Exactly how far south the aurora might appear remains uncertain and depends on how the incoming CMEs interact with Earth's magnetic field.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • While companies often look to make supply-chain adjustments in the face of tariffs, that really hasn’t happened because the trade landscape is too uncertain to make long-term adjustments.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All