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

With high noise, their paths became erratic and inefficient.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

She understood that his ability to socialize after an attack was erratic at times, and she never pushed him to do anything he felt uncomfortable with.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Vocabulary lists containing erratic

To Kill a Mockingbird

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

List 1

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

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

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!