shifting

ADJECTIVE

active

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alive effective operating

STRONG

flowing functioning going mobile movable operative progressive pushing rapid rolling running rushing rustling simmering speeding streaming traveling turning walking working

WEAK

astir at work bustling efficacious exertive hasty impelling in force in play in process moving restless speedy swarming

Antonyms

STRONG

fixed inoperative unmovable unworking

WEAK

abeyant disinterested dormant idle immobile inactive indifferent inert lazy quiescent quiet sluggish

ADJECTIVE

changeable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

capricious fickle fluctuating mercurial protean unpredictable unsettled unstable varying volatile

STRONG

changeful mutable

WEAK

agitated commutative convertible fitful flighty fluid impulsive inconstant indecisive irregular irresolute irresponsible kaleidoscopic mobile movable permutable restless reversible revocable skittish spasmodic transformable transitional uncertain unreliable unsteady vacillating vagrant variable variant versatile wavering whimsical

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm constant stable steadfast steady unvarying

WEAK

certain changeless fixed lasting reliable sure unchangeable undeviating

ADJECTIVE

errant

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aberrant erratic offending stray unorthodox wayward

WEAK

deviating devious drifting errable erring fallible heretic meandering misbehaving mischievous miscreant naughty off straight and narrow rambling ranging roaming roving sinning straying unreliable wandering

Antonyms

STRONGEST

normal

WEAK

correct righteous

ADJECTIVE

erratic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abnormal arbitrary bizarre capricious eccentric inconsistent irregular mercurial uncertain unreliable unstable unusual volatile wayward weird whimsical

WEAK

aberrant anomalous changeable desultory devious dicey directionless dubious fitful flaky fluctuant idiosyncratic iffy incalculable inconstant meandering nomadic oddball peculiar planetary rambling roving spasmodic strange stray undirected unnatural vagarious variable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm common normal reasonable regular sensible stable standard steadfast steady unchanging usual

WEAK

certain consistent definite dependable predictable reliable sure

ADJECTIVE

fitful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

desultory intermittent periodic spotty

WEAK

bits and pieces broken capricious catchy changeable disturbed erratic flickering fluctuating haphazard herky-jerky hit-or-miss impulsive inconstant interrupted on-again-off-again random recurrent restive restless spasmodic spastic unstable variable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

constant continual regular

WEAK

continuous even undisturbed unvarying

ADJECTIVE

fluid

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flexible unsettled unstable

STRONG

floating mobile variable

WEAK

adjustable changeful fluctuating indefinite malleable mercurial mutable protean unsteady

Antonyms

WEAK

inflexible solid stable unchangeable

ADJECTIVE

incongruent

Synonyms

WEAK

alien bizarre conflicting contradictory disconsonant discordant discrepant disparate dissonant distorted divergent extraneous fantastic fitful foreign illogical improper inappropriate inapropos inapt incoherent incompatible inconsistent irreconcilable irregular jumbled lopsided mismatched out of keeping rambling twisted unavailing unbalanced unbecoming unconnected uncoordinated uneven unintelligible unpredictable unrelated unsuitable unsuited

ADJECTIVE

incongruous

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bizarre contradictory inappropriate incoherent incompatible

WEAK

alien conflicting disconsonant discordant disparate distorted divergent extraneous fantastic fitful foreign illogical improper inapropos inapt incongruent inconsistent irreconcilable irregular jumbled lopsided mismatched out of keeping rambling twisted unavailing unbalanced unbecoming unconnected uncoordinated uneven unintelligible unpredictable unrelated unsuitable unsuited

Antonyms

WEAK

compatible congruous consistent corresponding fitting harmonious matched suitable uniform

ADJECTIVE

inconstant

Synonyms

WEAK

capricious changeful erratic fickle flickering fluctuating impulsive inconsistent intermittent irregular irresolute mercurial uncertain undependable unreliable unsettled unstable vacillating variable varying volatile waffling wavering

ADJECTIVE

intermittent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

fitful infrequent occasional periodic recurrent recurring seasonal

WEAK

alternate arrested broken by bits and pieces checked cyclic cyclical discontinuing discontinuous epochal every other here and there hit-or-miss interrupted isochronal isochronous iterant iterative metrical now and then on and off periodical punctuated rhythmic rhythmical serial spasmodic stop-and-go

Antonyms

STRONGEST

constant frequent permanent regular usual

WEAK

continual continuing perpetual

ADJECTIVE

irregular

Synonyms

STRONGEST

capricious erratic intermittent jerky sporadic uneven unreliable

STRONG

aberrant eccentric faltering weaving

WEAK

aimless casual changeable designless desultory disconnected discontinuous fitful fluctuating fragmentary haphazard hit-or-miss inconstant indiscriminate infrequent nonuniform occasional out of order patchy purposeless recurrent shaky spasmodic uncertain unconsidered unmethodical unpunctual unsettled unsteady unsystematic up and down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

constant continuous dependable regular reliable smooth steady

STRONG

normal

WEAK

common conventional even flat level methodical standard systematic usual

ADJECTIVE

itinerant

Synonyms

STRONGEST

nomadic peripatetic roving wandering

STRONG

ambulatory floating journeying travelling vagabond vagrant wayfaring

WEAK

afoot ambulant migratory moving on foot ranging riding the rails unsettled

Antonyms

STRONGEST

settled

WEAK

permanent

ADJECTIVE

migrant/migratory

Synonyms

WEAK

casual changing drifting emigrating errant gypsy immigrant immigrating impermanent itinerant migrative migratorial mobile nomad nomadic on the move passing over passing through peripatetic ranging roving seasonal temporary tramp transient transmigratory unsettled vagabond vagrant wandering

Antonyms

WEAK

staying

ADJECTIVE

migrational

Synonyms

WEAK

casual changing drifting emigrating errant immigrant immigrating impermanent itinerant migrant migrative migratorial mobile nomad nomadic on the move passing over passing through peripatetic ranging roving seasonal temporary tramp transient transmigratory unsettled vagabond vagrant wandering

ADJECTIVE

momentary

Synonyms

STRONGEST

short-lived temporary transitory

WEAK

cursory dreamlike ephemeral evanescent flashing flitting flying fugacious fugitive gone in flash hasty impermanent impulsive in wink of an eye instantaneous like lightning passing quick short spasmodic summary transient vanishing volatile

Antonyms

STRONGEST

lasting lengthy long-lived permanent

WEAK

long-lasting staying

ADJECTIVE

moving

Synonyms

STRONGEST

changing

STRONG

advancing climbing evolving flying going jumping progressing roaming roving running traversing walking

WEAK

motile movable nomadic portable unfixed unstable unsteadfast unsteady

Antonyms

WEAK

fixed immobile permanent stationary unmoving

ADJECTIVE

on-again, off-again

Synonyms

WEAK

alternate arrested broken by bits and pieces checked cyclic cyclical discontinuing discontinuous epochal every other fitful here and there hit-or-miss infrequent interrupted isochronal isochronous iterant iterative metrical now and then occasional on and off periodic periodical punctuated recurrent recurring rhythmic rhythmical seasonal serial spasmodic sporadic stop-and-go

ADJECTIVE

pro tem

Synonyms

WEAK

Band-Aid acting ad hoc ad interim alternate brief changeable ephemeral evanescent fleeting for the time being fugacious fugitive impermanent interim limited make-do makeshift momentary mortal overnight passing perishable pro tempore provisional provisory short short-lived slapdash stopgap substitute summary supply temp transient transitory unfixed unstable volatile

ADJECTIVE

ranging

Synonyms

STRONG

differing extending fluctuating

ADJECTIVE

short-range

Synonyms

STRONGEST

tactical

WEAK

Band-Aid acting ad hoc ad interim alternate brief changeable ephemeral evanescent fleeting for the time being fugacious fugitive impermanent interim limited make-do makeshift momentary mortal overnight passing perishable pro tem pro tempore provisional provisory short short-lived short-term slapdash stopgap substitute summary supply temp transient transitory unfixed unstable volatile

ADJECTIVE

short-term

Synonyms

STRONGEST

interim limited momentary

WEAK

Band-Aid acting ad hoc ad interim alternate brief changeable ephemeral evanescent fleeting for the time being fugacious fugitive impermanent make-do makeshift mortal overnight passing perishable pro tem pro tempore provisional provisory short short-lived short-range slapdash stopgap substitute summary supply temp transient transitory unfixed unstable volatile

Antonyms

STRONGEST

permanent

ADJECTIVE

standardizing

Synonyms

STRONG

balancing controlling determining directing normalizing regularizing regulating

WEAK

directive regulative

ADJECTIVE

temporary

Synonyms

STRONGEST

brief interim limited makeshift momentary provisional short-lived transitory

STRONG

acting alternate ephemeral fugitive impermanent make-do mortal passing perishable short stopgap substitute summary supply temp transient volatile

WEAK

Band-Aid ad hoc ad interim changeable evanescent fleeting for the time being fugacious overnight pro tem pro tempore provisory slapdash unfixed unstable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

enduring lasting lengthy long-lived permanent

STRONG

long unabridged

ADJECTIVE

transmigratory

Synonyms

WEAK

changing drifting emigrating errant immigrant immigrating impermanent itinerant migrant migrational migrative migratorial mobile nomad nomadic on the move passing over passing through peripatetic ranging roving seasonal temporary transient unsettled vagrant wandering

ADJECTIVE

unsettled

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitated changeable changing complicated confused disturbed insecure perilous perturbed precarious rattled restless shaky tense ticklish troubled uncertain uneasy unnerved unpredictable unstable

STRONG

busy flustered shaken thrown unbalanced wavering wobbling

WEAK

active antsy anxious changeful complex disorderly explosive fidgety fluid inconstant kinetic mobile mutable on edge restive shook-up unpeaceful unquiet unrestful unsteady variable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm certain clear composed constant definite easy easygoing firm fixed laid-back safe secure sound stable steady strong sure unchanging

WEAK

calmed content decided happy settled

ADJECTIVE

unsteady

Synonyms

STRONGEST

erratic groggy precarious rickety rocky unstable wobbly

WEAK

capricious changeable dizzy fickle fluctuating giddy inconstant quivery teetering tippy unreliable unsettled unsound vacillating variable wabbly wavering wayward wiggly

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain definite dependable stable steady strong sure

ADJECTIVE

vacillating

Synonyms

STRONG

oscillating staggering swaying tottering vibrating

WEAK

unsteady

Antonyms

WEAK

constant resolute steady unchanging

ADJECTIVE

vacillating

Synonyms

STRONG

fluctuating hesitating oscillating swaying vibrating wavering

WEAK

changeable hesitant inconstant irresolute tentative uncertain undecided unsure volatile

Antonyms

WEAK

constant resolute steady unchanging

ADJECTIVE

vagabond

Synonyms

STRONG

down-and-out drifting fly-by-night idle itinerant journeying mendicant moving peripatetic prodigal rambling roaming rootless roving sauntering straggling stray strolling transient travelling unsettled wandering wayfaring

WEAK

aimless destitute errant fancy-free footloose migratory nomadic perambulant perambulatory shiftless wayward

Antonyms

STRONG

fixed permanent settled unmoving

WEAK

inhabiting

ADJECTIVE

variable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

fickle fluctuating volatile

STRONG

fluid irregular mobile wavering yo-yo

WEAK

capricious changeful fitful flexible iffy inconstant mercurial mutable protean shifty slippery spasmodic temperamental ticklish uncertain unequable unsettled unstable unsteady vacillating waffling

Antonyms

STRONGEST

stable

WEAK

invariable unchangeable unchanging unvarying

ADJECTIVE

varying

Synonyms

STRONGEST

changeable changing differing fluctuating

STRONG

alternating deviating vacillating waffling wavering

WEAK

flexible inconstant irregular uncertain unstable unsteady volatile

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fixed stable

NOUN

movement

Synonyms

STRONGEST

act action change development evolution exercise flow migration move operation progress shift

STRONG

advance agitation alteration deed displacement dynamism flight flux gesture journey journeying locomotion maneuver mobility motility movableness passage progression regression steps stir stirring transit transplanting undertaking velocity wandering

WEAK

changing evolving moving operativeness roaming transferal translating voyaging

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cessation decline decrease idleness inaction inactivity inertia repose rest stagnation stoppage

WEAK

halt indifference pause

NOUN

reformation

Synonyms

STRONGEST

realignment renewal reorganization transformation

STRONG

alteration amendment change correction improvement rearrangement reconstruction reform rehabilitation renovation

WEAK

reworking

Antonyms

STRONG

worsening

NOUN

shift

Synonyms

STRONGEST

about-face alteration change conversion deviation move transfer transformation variation

STRONG

bend changeover deflection displacement double fault modification passage permutation rearrangement removal substitution tack transference transit translocation turn veering yaw

Antonyms

STRONGEST

idleness sameness stagnation

WEAK

deactivation maintenance

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Shifting some policy costs from electricity bills to general taxation could lower prices but would place greater strain on public finances.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Shifting to part-time work — Hill as a content creator and financial coach, and his wife as a newly trained esthetician — led their household income to fall 33%, from $180,000 to $120,000.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 14, 2026

Shifting correlations are a problem for investors. says Morgan Stanley.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Shifting 90 minutes reduced the likelihood by 29%, while replacing two hours led to a 43% drop.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

Shifting the light, Rashid looked at the girl again and spotted a small yellow bag sticking out from under one of her legs and slid it out.

From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau

Vocabulary lists containing shifting

Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"

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Lesson 1

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Messenger

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shifting

Example Sentences

Related Words

Vocabulary lists containing shifting

Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"

Lesson 1

Messenger