The accident was caused chiefly by the unpredictable weather.
Source: tatoeba (47142)
Unpredictable
Synonyms for "unpredictable" (261 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (53)
Adjective(23 words)
irregularannual irregularcapriciouschanciestchaoticchaotic activitychaotic activity diagramchaotic activity patternchaotic attractorchaotic dynamicschaotic environmentchaotic environmentschaotic layoutchaotic mapchaotic marketchaotic methodchaotic officechaotic processchaotic process analysischaotic routine
Show 3 more words
chaotic servicechaotic situationchaotic society
Verb(1 words)
create random data
Noun(1 words)
data anomaly
Strong matches (78)
Adjective(20 words)
dynamical instabilityerraticerratic behaviorerratic lawserratic tempofluctuating outputflukeyinconsistent behaviorinconsistent patterninconsistent routinesinstabilityirregular data patternirregular dayirregular teachingirregular verbirregularitynondeterministicnondeterministic approachnondeterministic machinenonlinear dynamics
eccentricequivocalerraticexplosiveextraordinaryfaddishfast and loosefatalfatidicficklefitfulflickeringflightyflirtatiousflittingfluctuantfluctuatingflukyfortuitousfreak
Show 29 more words
freakishgiddyhazardoushesitanthesitatingiffyimpetuousimprobableimpulsiveincalculableincidentalinconsistentinconstantindecisiveindemonstrableindeterminateinfirminsecureirregularirresoluteirresponsiblelightmazymercurialmoodymore than expectedout of the blueout-of-the-waypast expectation
Noun(7 words)
Verb(1 words)
Adverb(1 words)
more random layout
Related words (130)
polysemousprecariousquicksilverramblingrestlessriskyrockyroguerovingscatterbrainedshakyshapelessshiftingshiftyshufflingskepticalskittishspasmodicspinelesssudden
Show 63 more words
temperamentaltotterytouch-and-gotouchytoyingtreacherousunaccountableunannouncedunanticipateduncauseduncertainunconfirmableuncontrolledunconvincedundependableundeterminedundisciplinedundivinableundivinedunexpectedunfixedunforeseeableunforeseenunguessedunhealthyunheraldedunhoped forunlooked forunlooked-forunpersuadedunpredictedunprepared forunprovableunreliableunrestrainedunsafeunsettledunsoundunstableunstable as waterunstaidunsteadfastunsteadyunsureuntrustworthyunverifiablevacillatingvagrantvariableversatilevicissitudinaryvicissitudinousvolatilewanderingwantonwaveringwaverywavywaywardwhimsicalwishy washywishy-washywithout warning
Adjective(43 words)
randomrandom actionsrandom activityrandom approachrandom chaosrandom classrandom datarandom data setrandom fluctuationrandom instructionrandom motionrandom networkrandom noiserandom number generationrandom objectrandom processrandom puzzlerandom resultrandom text samplerandom weather
Show 23 more words
randomized contentrandomized methodrisky behaviorsnakiestsporadicsporadic eventstrange attractorsurprising endingtemperamentaluncertaintyuncontrollableunforecasted weatherunforeseeableunpatterned behaviorunpatterned designsunplannedunstable energy descriptorunstable influenceunstable structurevariabilityvariablevolatilitywild ride
Noun(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: irregular, accidental, adrift, adventitious, afloat.
- Sentence evidence is available for unpredictable, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "unpredictable".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "unpredictable"
Keep "unpredictable" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "unpredictable" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "unpredictable", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "unpredictable" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
13 entriescapriciouserraticerratic eventinconstantirregularirregularityrandom resultrandomnessunplannedunplanned occurrenceunreliablevariabilityvariable
Collocations
12 entriesdegree of unpredictabilityhigh unpredictabilitylevel of unpredictabilitymeasure of unpredictabilityunpredictability indexunpredictability of outcomesunpredictable behaviorunpredictable dataunpredictable futureunpredictable outcomeunpredictable resultsunpredictable weather
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
10 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
Both of them are unpredictable and impatient.
Source: tatoeba (925233)
They were polar opposites: one was honest and reliable, whilst the other was unpredictable and irresponsible.
Source: tatoeba (1693998)
They're unpredictable.
Source: tatoeba (2111228)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "unpredictable"?
Closest matches include irregular, accidental, adrift, adventitious, afloat.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "unpredictable"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.