Erratic
adjective
Not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.
His erratic behavior concerned his friends.
adjective
Moving or behaving in a way that is not regular, certain, or expected.
The heat has been very erratic this summer.
adjective
In geology, it refers to a rock or boulder that differs from the surrounding rock and is brought from a distance by glacial action.
There is a large erratic boulder in the middle of the field.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
In medicine, an erratic pulse is one that is irregular or unpredictable, typically due to heart disease.
The patient's erratic pulse worried the doctor.
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.
His erratic behavior concerned his friends.
adjective
Moving or behaving in a way that is not regular, certain, or expected.
The heat has been very erratic this summer.
adjective
In geology, it refers to a rock or boulder that differs from the surrounding rock and is brought from a distance by glacial action.
There is a large erratic boulder in the middle of the field.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
In medicine, an erratic pulse is one that is irregular or unpredictable, typically due to heart disease.
The patient's erratic pulse worried the doctor.
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Human Behavior
Used to describe unpredictable or unusual human actions.
He had an erratic way of talking that made him hard to understand.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often hints at something being wrong or undesirable.
The team's performance was erratic and led to their loss.
Pro Tip 3/3Caution in Use
Can be offensive if used to describe a person directly.
Her moods have been erratic lately—I hope she's okay.
Pro Tip 1/3Human Behavior
Used to describe unpredictable or unusual human actions.
He had an erratic way of talking that made him hard to understand.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often hints at something being wrong or undesirable.
The team's performance was erratic and led to their loss.
Pro Tip 3/3Caution in Use
Can be offensive if used to describe a person directly.
Her moods have been erratic lately—I hope she's okay.
Pro Tip 1/3Human Behavior
Used to describe unpredictable or unusual human actions.
He had an erratic way of talking that made him hard to understand.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often hints at something being wrong or undesirable.
The team's performance was erratic and led to their loss.
Pro Tip 3/3Caution in Use
Can be offensive if used to describe a person directly.
Her moods have been erratic lately—I hope she's okay.
Compare with
capriciousficklefluctuateinconsistentmercurialpredictreliablestablevariable
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Video examples
Reel Talk Ep. 10 - When...
of the day if I were to fish myself for a whole season I would still turn a profit I mean it's a freakin tuna fish we all understand the patterns we all understand how to catch them if you play them out long enough you're gonna get them if you want to try and get them quick and have them be all erratic at the boat you're gonna lose a lot of fish and that's where that second guy could help you well Dave you've pushed Tyler
Video examples
What is Alzheimer's...
resulting in erratic mood changes. At the top of the brain, they cause paranoia and hallucinations, and once they reach the brain's rear, the plaques and tangles work together to erase the mind's deepest memories. Eventually the control centers governing heart rate and breathing are overpowered as well resulting in death.
Video examples
Vinay Venkatraman:...
and the next version we came up with was a box that kind of could trickle charge on solar energy, but most importantly connect to a car battery, because a car battery is a ubiquitous source of power in places where there's not enough electricity or erratic electricity. And the other key thing that we did was
Video examples
The accelerating power...
an exponential process that is. I mean, you'd think this is the result of some tabletop experiment, but this is the result of worldwide chaotic behavior -- countries accusing each other of dumping products, IPOs, bankruptcies, marketing programs. You would think it would be a very erratic process,
Video examples
Fishing Tips: How to...
if you see balls of bait on top erratic behavior in the marine life then you're usually in the right spot sometimes you really like to get in the bait and get your baits mixed up with a bait ball and that's good for fishing too usually you hang with the birds and they won't lie
Video examples
What if mental health...
She informed us that her husband was locked in the bathroom, and he was talking about ending his life. He had box cutters. We went inside to talk to him, and he explained to us, through a closed door, that he simply couldn't do it anymore. He was erratic.
Video examples
Why should you read "A...
and the nonsensical behavior of the people under its spell. The moon overlooks the action “like a silver bow,” signifying erratic behavior, the dark side of love, and the bewitching allure of a world where the usual rules don’t apply.
Video examples
Why should you read...
And since he spends much of the play facing inward, he often fails to see the destruction left in his wake. He’s particularly cruel to Ophelia, his doomed love interest who is brought to madness by the prince’s erratic behavior.
Video examples
Just add water: The...
And erratic weather caused by climate change makes swarms harder to predict. If we plan to discourage lonely locusts from becoming catastrophic crowds, humans need to cut carbon emissions, rethink our agriculture,
Video examples
Young Elephants Fight To...
anything too erratic and the rains will be here soon and everything should be rosy until the rains come they'll have to try and make it on their own with other herds scattered because of the
Video examples
Reel Talk Ep. 10 - When...
of the day if I were to fish myself for a whole season I would still turn a profit I mean it's a freakin tuna fish we all understand the patterns we all understand how to catch them if you play them out long enough you're gonna get them if you want to try and get them quick and have them be all erratic at the boat you're gonna lose a lot of fish and that's where that second guy could help you well Dave you've pushed Tyler
Video examples
What is Alzheimer's...
resulting in erratic mood changes. At the top of the brain, they cause paranoia and hallucinations, and once they reach the brain's rear, the plaques and tangles work together to erase the mind's deepest memories. Eventually the control centers governing heart rate and breathing are overpowered as well resulting in death.
Video examples
Vinay Venkatraman:...
and the next version we came up with was a box that kind of could trickle charge on solar energy, but most importantly connect to a car battery, because a car battery is a ubiquitous source of power in places where there's not enough electricity or erratic electricity. And the other key thing that we did was
Video examples
The accelerating power...
an exponential process that is. I mean, you'd think this is the result of some tabletop experiment, but this is the result of worldwide chaotic behavior -- countries accusing each other of dumping products, IPOs, bankruptcies, marketing programs. You would think it would be a very erratic process,
Video examples
Fishing Tips: How to...
if you see balls of bait on top erratic behavior in the marine life then you're usually in the right spot sometimes you really like to get in the bait and get your baits mixed up with a bait ball and that's good for fishing too usually you hang with the birds and they won't lie
Video examples
What if mental health...
She informed us that her husband was locked in the bathroom, and he was talking about ending his life. He had box cutters. We went inside to talk to him, and he explained to us, through a closed door, that he simply couldn't do it anymore. He was erratic.
Video examples
Why should you read "A...
and the nonsensical behavior of the people under its spell. The moon overlooks the action “like a silver bow,” signifying erratic behavior, the dark side of love, and the bewitching allure of a world where the usual rules don’t apply.
Video examples
Why should you read...
And since he spends much of the play facing inward, he often fails to see the destruction left in his wake. He’s particularly cruel to Ophelia, his doomed love interest who is brought to madness by the prince’s erratic behavior.
Video examples
Just add water: The...
And erratic weather caused by climate change makes swarms harder to predict. If we plan to discourage lonely locusts from becoming catastrophic crowds, humans need to cut carbon emissions, rethink our agriculture,
Video examples
Young Elephants Fight To...
anything too erratic and the rains will be here soon and everything should be rosy until the rains come they'll have to try and make it on their own with other herds scattered because of the
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Warren E. Burger
American Judge
There can be no assumption that today's majority is 'right' and the Amish and others like them are 'wrong.' A way of life that is odd or even erratic but interferes with no rights or interests of others is not to be condemned because it is different.
Quote examples
Charles Spurgeon
British Clergyman
The astronomer will believe that the most erratic comet will yet accomplish its journey and revisit our sphere; but we give up those for lost who have not wandered one-half the distance from the centre of light and life.
Quote examples
Holly Hunter
American Actress
I've always had to move between a couple of years of unemployment, where offers are not provocative enough to take, and seasons where I work nonstop for a year. It's always been an erratic rhythm.
Quote examples
John Updike
American Novelist
A leader is one who, out of madness or goodness, volunteers to take upon himself the woe of the people. There are few men so foolish, hence the erratic quality of leadership in the world.
Quote examples
Jamie Oliver
British Chef
My first outdoor cooking memories are full of erratic British summers, Dad swearing at a barbecue that he couldn't put together, and eventually eating charred sausages, feeling brilliant.
Quote examples
Brian Stelter
American Journalist
News outlets use words like erratic, volatile, unstable but rarely are Trump's words and actions covered as a whole and rarely do news outlets take it to that next level.
Quote examples
Ishaan Khatter
Indian Actor
I am not somebody who is very fashionable. I do not pay much heed to what I wear. I am very erratic in that sense.
Quote examples
John Singleton
American Director
I've become more relaxed. When I was younger, I had more erratic, nervous tension when I was working.
Quote examples
Adam Conover
American Comedian
We've had erratic, weird presidents before. America's still here.
Quote examples
Jessica Mendoza
American Journalist
The most erratic thing I ever did was going blonde.
Quote examples
Warren E. Burger
American Judge
There can be no assumption that today's majority is 'right' and the Amish and others like them are 'wrong.' A way of life that is odd or even erratic but interferes with no rights or interests of others is not to be condemned because it is different.
Quote examples
Charles Spurgeon
British Clergyman
The astronomer will believe that the most erratic comet will yet accomplish its journey and revisit our sphere; but we give up those for lost who have not wandered one-half the distance from the centre of light and life.
Quote examples
Holly Hunter
American Actress
I've always had to move between a couple of years of unemployment, where offers are not provocative enough to take, and seasons where I work nonstop for a year. It's always been an erratic rhythm.
Quote examples
John Updike
American Novelist
A leader is one who, out of madness or goodness, volunteers to take upon himself the woe of the people. There are few men so foolish, hence the erratic quality of leadership in the world.
Quote examples
Jamie Oliver
British Chef
My first outdoor cooking memories are full of erratic British summers, Dad swearing at a barbecue that he couldn't put together, and eventually eating charred sausages, feeling brilliant.
Quote examples
Brian Stelter
American Journalist
News outlets use words like erratic, volatile, unstable but rarely are Trump's words and actions covered as a whole and rarely do news outlets take it to that next level.
Quote examples
Ishaan Khatter
Indian Actor
I am not somebody who is very fashionable. I do not pay much heed to what I wear. I am very erratic in that sense.
Quote examples
John Singleton
American Director
I've become more relaxed. When I was younger, I had more erratic, nervous tension when I was working.
Quote examples
Adam Conover
American Comedian
We've had erratic, weird presidents before. America's still here.
Quote examples
Jessica Mendoza
American Journalist
The most erratic thing I ever did was going blonde.
Example 1 of 10
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