erratic

[ih-rat-ik] / ɪˈræt ɪk /

ADJECTIVE

unpredictable; wandering

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 shifting 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

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.

The jobs report has been up and down lately — some economists would say erratic — and it’s hard to find a major improvement in hiring trends.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

The 78-year-old Northern California woman is the third person to die in California during an erratic snake season.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

His erratic messaging on Iran is further diluted by increasingly frequent digressions on his favorite topic: the construction and renovation of buildings.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Boyd frequently posted videos of erratic drivers on social media, but he testified at the hearing that he didn’t record them with the tablet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

It didn’t matter that my body was rigid as a plank, my hands balled into fists, my breathing erratic .

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

Vocabulary lists containing erratic

To Kill a Mockingbird

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List 1

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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 1–6

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