Erratically
adverb
In a manner that is not regular, consistent or predictable.
The car was moving erratically because the driver was drunk.
Often appears as...
- drive erratically
- behave erratically
adverb
In a manner that changes direction suddenly and unexpectedly.
His mind was racing erratically, making it hard for him to concentrate.
Often appears as...
- think erratically
- change erratically
adverb
In a manner that is not regular, consistent or predictable.
The car was moving erratically because the driver was drunk.
Often appears as...
- drive erratically
- behave erratically
adverb
In a manner that changes direction suddenly and unexpectedly.
His mind was racing erratically, making it hard for him to concentrate.
Often appears as...
- think erratically
- change erratically
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Unsteady Patterns
Use 'erratically' to describe actions lacking a clear pattern or method, which can make someone seem confused or unreliable.
He answered the questions erratically, confusing the interviewer.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Implication
'Erratically' often suggests a problem or something wrong, such as a fault in mechanics or someone's unpredictable behavior.
The old clock ticks erratically, in need of repair.
Pro Tip 3/3Reaction to Stimuli
Describe reflexes or instincts with 'erratically' when they produce inconsistent responses to stimuli or stress.
The startled bird flew erratically from branch to branch.
Pro Tip 1/3Unsteady Patterns
Use 'erratically' to describe actions lacking a clear pattern or method, which can make someone seem confused or unreliable.
He answered the questions erratically, confusing the interviewer.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Implication
'Erratically' often suggests a problem or something wrong, such as a fault in mechanics or someone's unpredictable behavior.
The old clock ticks erratically, in need of repair.
Pro Tip 3/3Reaction to Stimuli
Describe reflexes or instincts with 'erratically' when they produce inconsistent responses to stimuli or stress.
The startled bird flew erratically from branch to branch.
Pro Tip 1/3Unsteady Patterns
Use 'erratically' to describe actions lacking a clear pattern or method, which can make someone seem confused or unreliable.
He answered the questions erratically, confusing the interviewer.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Implication
'Erratically' often suggests a problem or something wrong, such as a fault in mechanics or someone's unpredictable behavior.
The old clock ticks erratically, in need of repair.
Pro Tip 3/3Reaction to Stimuli
Describe reflexes or instincts with 'erratically' when they produce inconsistent responses to stimuli or stress.
The startled bird flew erratically from branch to branch.
Compare with
chaoticallyfitfulinconsistentirregularlysporadically
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Video examples
Spotting the camel...
line like him but run very erratically dodging rocky obstacles along the way this creature has its head and jaws as you can see nearly a third of their body size the bite is very powerful but not venomous to give you an idea of how big gold is I'd like everyone to put their
Video examples
Ed Yong: Suicidal wasps,...
or horsehair worm. The worm grew to adult size within it, but it needs to get into water in order to mate, and it does that by releasing proteins that addle the cricket's brain, causing it to behave erratically. When the cricket nears a body of water,
Video examples
How parasites change...
So once it's big enough to reproduce, the worm produces proteins that garble the cricket's navigational system. The confused cricket jumps around erratically, moves closer to water, and eventually leaps in, often drowning in the process.
Video examples
The Global Spermageddon...
TIM Time for the moment of truth. TIM This is it? Wow. This is-- it's mind-blowing to see your individual sperm. Now, are they swimming just erratically in circles or is there a pattern to this? Well, they never ask for directions,
Video examples
One-Child Policy PIPE...
bananas erratically putting the brakes on sexualized bananas is a mild restriction compared to China's most notorious anti-sex regulation women were forced to undergo abortion sterilization
Video examples
Exorcism PIPE National...
Philippines Erik harami Yano has been behaving erratically for months people here believe that his soul is under siege by none other than the devil himself
Video examples
Exorcism PIPE National...
in the seaside village of Novartis in the Philippines Erik Jaramillo has been behaving erratically for months people here believe that his soul is under
Video examples
Arctic Man Incident PIPE...
Steen long to find one this man was driving his snow machine erratically yeah we do this in Kotzebue one time I think so you're kind of
Video examples
Exorcism PIPE National...
in the seaside village of Novartis in the Philippines Eric hare Emiliano has been behaving erratically for months people here
Video examples
Exorcise the Demons PIPE...
now with each passing minute Jeanette's behavior changes erratically
Video examples
Spotting the camel...
line like him but run very erratically dodging rocky obstacles along the way this creature has its head and jaws as you can see nearly a third of their body size the bite is very powerful but not venomous to give you an idea of how big gold is I'd like everyone to put their
Video examples
Ed Yong: Suicidal wasps,...
or horsehair worm. The worm grew to adult size within it, but it needs to get into water in order to mate, and it does that by releasing proteins that addle the cricket's brain, causing it to behave erratically. When the cricket nears a body of water,
Video examples
How parasites change...
So once it's big enough to reproduce, the worm produces proteins that garble the cricket's navigational system. The confused cricket jumps around erratically, moves closer to water, and eventually leaps in, often drowning in the process.
Video examples
The Global Spermageddon...
TIM Time for the moment of truth. TIM This is it? Wow. This is-- it's mind-blowing to see your individual sperm. Now, are they swimming just erratically in circles or is there a pattern to this? Well, they never ask for directions,
Video examples
One-Child Policy PIPE...
bananas erratically putting the brakes on sexualized bananas is a mild restriction compared to China's most notorious anti-sex regulation women were forced to undergo abortion sterilization
Video examples
Exorcism PIPE National...
Philippines Erik harami Yano has been behaving erratically for months people here believe that his soul is under siege by none other than the devil himself
Video examples
Exorcism PIPE National...
in the seaside village of Novartis in the Philippines Erik Jaramillo has been behaving erratically for months people here believe that his soul is under
Video examples
Arctic Man Incident PIPE...
Steen long to find one this man was driving his snow machine erratically yeah we do this in Kotzebue one time I think so you're kind of
Video examples
Exorcism PIPE National...
in the seaside village of Novartis in the Philippines Eric hare Emiliano has been behaving erratically for months people here
Video examples
Exorcise the Demons PIPE...
now with each passing minute Jeanette's behavior changes erratically
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Chelsea Handler
American Comedian
I've always had a big personality. I was trickier as a kid. I behaved erratically instead of consistently. I would have tons of friends, and then I would have no friends. I'd be with the cool girls, then the uncool girls. I migrated from group to group because I was bored or people got bored with me. I was very intense.
Quote examples
John Updike
American Novelist
Mars has long exerted a pull on the human imagination. The erratically moving red star in the sky was seen as sinister or violent by the ancients: The Greeks identified it with Ares, the god of war; the Babylonians named it after Nergal, god of the underworld. To the ancient Chinese, it was Ying-huo, the fire planet.
Quote examples
Whitney Wolfe Herd
American Businesswoman
I'd read a lot about the psychology around rejection and insecurity, and I had noticed that when people feel insecure or rejected, they behave aggressively, erratically. Especially when you can hide behind a screen name or a profile picture.
Quote examples
Maya Angelou
American Poet
Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.
Quote examples
Chelsea Handler
American Comedian
I've always had a big personality. I was trickier as a kid. I behaved erratically instead of consistently. I would have tons of friends, and then I would have no friends. I'd be with the cool girls, then the uncool girls. I migrated from group to group because I was bored or people got bored with me. I was very intense.
Quote examples
John Updike
American Novelist
Mars has long exerted a pull on the human imagination. The erratically moving red star in the sky was seen as sinister or violent by the ancients: The Greeks identified it with Ares, the god of war; the Babylonians named it after Nergal, god of the underworld. To the ancient Chinese, it was Ying-huo, the fire planet.
Quote examples
Whitney Wolfe Herd
American Businesswoman
I'd read a lot about the psychology around rejection and insecurity, and I had noticed that when people feel insecure or rejected, they behave aggressively, erratically. Especially when you can hide behind a screen name or a profile picture.
Quote examples
Maya Angelou
American Poet
Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.
Example 1 of 4
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