inconsistent
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
not staying the same in quality or behaviour; unpredictable.
lacking a steady or uniform quality over time; erratic in performance or behaviour.
Simple“The team lost the game because their defense was inconsistent throughout the season.”
In context“The athlete's inconsistent performance during the qualifiers raised concerns about her ability to maintain focus under the pressure of the finals.”
UsageOften used to describe performance, quality, or human behaviour.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
containing parts that do not agree with each other or with the facts.
displaying a lack of logical harmony or agreement between different elements, statements, or findings.
Simple“The witness gave an inconsistent account of what happened that night.”
In context“The researcher noted that the new data was inconsistent with previous findings, suggesting a need for a complete revision of the theory.”
UsageCommonly followed by the preposition 'with'.
SynonymsAntonyms
Usage inconsistent with
“Nigeria’s electricity supply is notoriously inconsistent, and many households receive only a few hours of power each day.”
“The questions and product definitions used in these surveys can also be inconsistent.”
From in- + consistent.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.