erratic

1 of 2

adjective

er·rat·ic i-ˈra-tik How to pronounce erratic (audio)

: having no fixed course : wandering

an erratic comet

: characterized by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity

erratic dieting

keeps erratic hours

: deviating from what is ordinary or standard : eccentric

an erratic genius

: transported from an original resting place especially by a glacier

an erratic boulder

archaic : nomadic

erratical

i-ˈra-ti-kəl How to pronounce erratic (audio)

adjective

erratically

i-ˈra-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce erratic (audio)

adverb

erraticism

i-ˈra-tə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce erratic (audio)

noun

erratic

2 of 2

noun

: one that is erratic (see erratic entry 1)

especially : a boulder or block of rock transported from its original resting place especially by a glacier

Example Sentences

Adjective My sinker has been my most erratic pitch. And when your foundation pitch is lacking, you have to go to other pitches. My sinker has been in and out, but mostly out.

Orel Hershiser, in New York Times, 9 May 1999 In winning his two-month match in Yugoslavia against Boris Spassky, 10 games to five, Bobby Fischer was erratic, which was hardly surprising considering his two-decade layoff, but there were times when he played more brilliantly than anybody could have expected.

Sports Illustrated, 16 Nov. 1992 Over the centuries, in erratic ways, men have constructed a world in which they are relatively free of many kinds of threatening or harmful stimuli …

B. F. Skinner, Beyond Freedom and Dignity, (1971) 1972 so far your effort to land a summer job has been very erratic because of your erratic attendance at practice, you're in danger of being cut from the team

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

His attorneys' theme throughout their case has been to show how his birth mother's alcohol abuse during pregnancy put him onto a lifelong path of erratic, bizarre and often violent behavior that culminated in the shootings.

CBS News, 16 Sep. 2022 At Rady Shell concerts this year, the amplification has been erratic at times, but whoever ran the board on Friday did a great job.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2022 From erratic behavior that led hundreds of ex-national security officials to support the first impeachment inquiry to flagrant inaction on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump had an unwavering commitment to himself above all else.

Stephanie Grisham And Gavin J. Smith, CNN, 17 Aug. 2022 The suspect, identified as Caren Satterfield, 47, entered the store and started displaying erratic behavior, Officer Annie Hernandez said.

Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022 Behavior of students, and parents, erratic behavior of other drivers on the road and the allure of driving for Amazon -- where a driver is not working a split shift --are taking drivers away.

Brenda Cain, cleveland, 13 Aug. 2022 If that help happens, Miller, who goes by they/them pronouns, could give an interview at some point explaining their erratic behavior over the past few years.

Pamela Mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Aug. 2022 Heche’s Friday crash wasn’t her first public incident of erratic behavior.

Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 11 Aug. 2022 The actor's felony charge is the latest in a string of legal troubles and reports of erratic behavior.

Landon Mion, Fox News, 9 Aug. 2022

Noun

Speidel was inspired to create these artworks from her fascination with glacial erratics, a type of rock that once was carried inside glacial ice and traveled hundreds of miles sometimes across thousands of years to its current resting spot.

Nickole Kerner Bobley, Houston Chronicle, 25 Apr. 2020 One of the biggest boulders is now enshrined at the Erratic Rock State Natural Site in McMinnville, a small state park that aims to educate visitors about these odd erratics.

Jamie Hale, OregonLive.com, 6 June 2017 Erratics are also found in the Columbia River Gorge.

Jamie Hale, OregonLive.com, 6 June 2017 See More

erratic

adjective

as in random

lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern so far your effort to land a summer job has been very erratic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

random
scattered
arbitrary
sporadic
haphazard
stray
accidental
aimless
irregular
slapdash
lucky
desultory
odd
casual
contingent
hit-or-miss
scattershot
chancy
inadvertent
chance
helter-skelter
spot
catch-as-catch-can
shotgun
unintentional
unplanned
fortuitous
unsystematic
directionless
incidental
disorganized
indiscriminate
unpremeditated
purposeless
flukey
unintended
disorderly
unconsidered
fluky
objectless
undirected
unselective
undiscriminating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

regular
systematic
regular
steady
orderly
constant
methodical
continuous
stable
fixed
organized
nonrandom
methodic
even
established
arranged
systematized
deliberate
set
conscious
aware
wilful
purposeful
planned
thoughtful
willful
ordered
managed
orchestrated

as in sporadic

lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence because of your erratic attendance at practice, you're in danger of being cut from the team

Synonyms & Similar Words

sporadic
intermittent
occasional
unpredictable
irregular
sudden
unsteady
spasmodic
violent
spastic
discontinuous
fitful
volatile
spotty
choppy
episodic
casual
aperiodic
haphazard
episodical
random
changing
capricious
unstable
varying
interrupted
fluctuating
scattered
uncertain
fragmentary
aimless
temperamental
catchy
mercurial
changeful
disconnected
slapdash
inconstant
arbitrary
convulsive
odd
desultory
unsettled
wavering
broken
stray
hit-and-miss
variable
fickle
hit-or-miss
changeable
fluid
mutable
flickery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

constant
continuous
periodic
steady
regular
habitual
stable
uniform
repeated
stationary
even
systematic
unchanging
equable
methodical
orderly
unrelenting
unvarying
unremitting
changeless
unwavering
methodic

as in changing

not staying constant business at the fast-food restaurant has been so erratic lately that the manager never knows how much staff to have on hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

changing
uneven
varying
inconsistent
unstable
fluctuating
volatile
irregular
unequal
changeful
capricious
unsteady
uncertain
variable
mercurial
fickle
inconstant
changeable
unsettled
choppy
fluid
mutable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

constant
steady
stable
regular
unchanging
unvarying
changeless

as in bizarre

different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion the animal's erratic behavior made her wonder if it was ill

Synonyms & Similar Words

bizarre
strange
odd
weird
funny
peculiar
eccentric
crazy
curious
abnormal
remarkable
unusual
screwy
quirky
outlandish
wacky
wild
outré
funky
offbeat
unique
unconventional
whacky
outrageous
kooky
kinky
weirdo
off-kilter
cranky
quaint
bizarro
uncommon
off-the-wall
extraordinary
queer
flaky
queerish
aberrant
spaced-out
freakish
way-out
outstanding
kookie
fantastic
freak
noticeable
fantastical
rum
far-out
atypical
rare
idiosyncratic
conspicuous
phenomenal
out-of-the-way
freaky
shocking
striking
prominent
perplexing
phantasmagoric
bewildering
puzzling
baffling
uncustomary
atrocious
notable
singular
salient
unorthodox
confounding
unwonted
phantasmagorical
mystifying
crotchety
nonconformist
nonmainstream
addlepated
out-there

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

normal
usual
typical
average
ordinary
standard
routine
prosaic
unremarkable
commonplace
everyday
conventional
predictable
conservative
garden
unexceptional
frequent
workaday
conformist
familiar
regular
run-of-the-mill
habitual
expected
common
customary
knee-jerk
wonted

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of erratic are eccentric, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

The words eccentric and erratic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

The meanings of odd and erratic largely overlap; however, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

The words outlandish and erratic can be used in similar contexts, but outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

Although the words peculiar and erratic have much in common, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

While in some cases nearly identical to erratic, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

In some situations, the words singular and erratic are roughly equivalent. However, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

While the synonyms strange and erratic are close in meaning, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

The synonyms unique and erratic are sometimes interchangeable, but unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

单词	erratic
释义	erratic 1 of 2 adjective er·rat·ic i-ˈra-tik 1 : having no fixed course : wandering an erratic comet 2 a : characterized by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity erratic dieting keeps erratic hours b : deviating from what is ordinary or standard : eccentric an erratic genius 3 : transported from an original resting place especially by a glacier an erratic boulder 4 archaic : nomadic erratical i-ˈra-ti-kəl adjective erratically i-ˈra-ti-k(ə-)lē adverb erraticism i-ˈra-tə-ˌsi-zəm noun erratic 2 of 2 noun : one that is erratic (see erratic entry 1) especially : a boulder or block of rock transported from its original resting place especially by a glacier Did you know? Erratic can refer to literal "wandering". A missile that loses its guidance system may follow an erratic path, and a river with lots of twists and bends is said to have an erratic course. Erratic can also mean "inconsistent" or "irregular". So a stock market that often changes direction is said to be acting erratically; an erratic heartbeat can be cause for concern; and if your car idles erratically it may mean that something's wrong with the spark-plug wiring. Synonyms Adjective aimless arbitrary catch-as-catch-can desultory haphazard helter-skelter hit-or-miss random scattered slapdash stray See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective My sinker has been my most erratic pitch. And when your foundation pitch is lacking, you have to go to other pitches. My sinker has been in and out, but mostly out. Orel Hershiser, in New York Times, 9 May 1999 In winning his two-month match in Yugoslavia against Boris Spassky, 10 games to five, Bobby Fischer was erratic, which was hardly surprising considering his two-decade layoff, but there were times when he played more brilliantly than anybody could have expected. Sports Illustrated, 16 Nov. 1992 Over the centuries, in erratic ways, men have constructed a world in which they are relatively free of many kinds of threatening or harmful stimuli … B. F. Skinner, Beyond Freedom and Dignity, (1971) 1972 so far your effort to land a summer job has been very erratic because of your erratic attendance at practice, you're in danger of being cut from the team Recent Examples on the Web Adjective His attorneys' theme throughout their case has been to show how his birth mother's alcohol abuse during pregnancy put him onto a lifelong path of erratic, bizarre and often violent behavior that culminated in the shootings. CBS News, 16 Sep. 2022 At Rady Shell concerts this year, the amplification has been erratic at times, but whoever ran the board on Friday did a great job. San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2022 From erratic behavior that led hundreds of ex-national security officials to support the first impeachment inquiry to flagrant inaction on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump had an unwavering commitment to himself above all else. Stephanie Grisham And Gavin J. Smith, CNN, 17 Aug. 2022 The suspect, identified as Caren Satterfield, 47, entered the store and started displaying erratic behavior, Officer Annie Hernandez said. Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022 Behavior of students, and parents, erratic behavior of other drivers on the road and the allure of driving for Amazon -- where a driver is not working a split shift --are taking drivers away. Brenda Cain, cleveland, 13 Aug. 2022 If that help happens, Miller, who goes by they/them pronouns, could give an interview at some point explaining their erratic behavior over the past few years. Pamela Mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Aug. 2022 Heche’s Friday crash wasn’t her first public incident of erratic behavior. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 11 Aug. 2022 The actor's felony charge is the latest in a string of legal troubles and reports of erratic behavior. Landon Mion, Fox News, 9 Aug. 2022 Noun Speidel was inspired to create these artworks from her fascination with glacial erratics, a type of rock that once was carried inside glacial ice and traveled hundreds of miles sometimes across thousands of years to its current resting spot. Nickole Kerner Bobley, Houston Chronicle, 25 Apr. 2020 One of the biggest boulders is now enshrined at the Erratic Rock State Natural Site in McMinnville, a small state park that aims to educate visitors about these odd erratics. Jamie Hale, OregonLive.com, 6 June 2017 Erratics are also found in the Columbia River Gorge. Jamie Hale, OregonLive.com, 6 June 2017 See More Word History Etymology Adjective and Noun Middle English, from Latin erraticus, from erratus, past participle of errare — see err First Known Use Adjective 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun circa 1623, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition erratic adjective er·rat·ic i-ˈra-tik : not consistent or regular erratic behavior erratic movements Medical Definition erratic adjective er·rat·ic ir-ˈat-ik 1 : characterized by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity an erratic pulse 2 : deviating from what is ordinary or standard erratic adjective 1 as in random lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern so far your effort to land a summer job has been very erratic Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance random scattered arbitrary sporadic haphazard stray accidental aimless irregular slapdash lucky desultory odd casual contingent hit-or-miss scattershot chancy inadvertent chance helter-skelter spot catch-as-catch-can shotgun unintentional unplanned fortuitous unsystematic directionless incidental disorganized indiscriminate unpremeditated purposeless flukey unintended disorderly unconsidered fluky objectless undirected unselective undiscriminating Antonyms & Near Antonyms regular systematic regular steady orderly constant methodical continuous stable fixed organized nonrandom methodic even established arranged systematized deliberate set conscious aware wilful purposeful planned thoughtful willful ordered managed orchestrated See More 2 as in sporadic lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence because of your erratic attendance at practice, you're in danger of being cut from the team Synonyms & Similar Words sporadic intermittent occasional unpredictable irregular sudden unsteady spasmodic violent spastic discontinuous fitful volatile spotty choppy episodic casual aperiodic haphazard episodical random changing capricious unstable varying interrupted fluctuating scattered uncertain fragmentary aimless temperamental catchy mercurial changeful disconnected slapdash inconstant arbitrary convulsive odd desultory unsettled wavering broken stray hit-and-miss variable fickle hit-or-miss changeable fluid mutable flickery Antonyms & Near Antonyms constant continuous periodic steady regular habitual stable uniform repeated stationary even systematic unchanging equable methodical orderly unrelenting unvarying unremitting changeless unwavering methodic See More 3 as in changing not staying constant business at the fast-food restaurant has been so erratic lately that the manager never knows how much staff to have on hand Synonyms & Similar Words changing uneven varying inconsistent unstable fluctuating volatile irregular unequal changeful capricious unsteady uncertain variable mercurial fickle inconstant changeable unsettled choppy fluid mutable Antonyms & Near Antonyms constant steady stable regular unchanging unvarying changeless See More 4 as in bizarre different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion the animal's erratic behavior made her wonder if it was ill Synonyms & Similar Words bizarre strange odd weird funny peculiar eccentric crazy curious abnormal remarkable unusual screwy quirky outlandish wacky wild outré funky offbeat unique unconventional whacky outrageous kooky kinky weirdo off-kilter cranky quaint bizarro uncommon off-the-wall extraordinary queer flaky queerish aberrant spaced-out freakish way-out outstanding kookie fantastic freak noticeable fantastical rum far-out atypical rare idiosyncratic conspicuous phenomenal out-of-the-way freaky shocking striking prominent perplexing phantasmagoric bewildering puzzling baffling uncustomary atrocious notable singular salient unorthodox confounding unwonted phantasmagorical mystifying crotchety nonconformist nonmainstream addlepated out-there Antonyms & Near Antonyms normal usual typical average ordinary standard routine prosaic unremarkable commonplace everyday conventional predictable conservative garden unexceptional frequent workaday conformist familiar regular run-of-the-mill habitual expected common customary knee-jerk wonted See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of erratic are eccentric, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating. a friend's suddenly erratic behavior The words eccentric and erratic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior. the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers The meanings of odd and erratic largely overlap; however, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected. an odd sense of humor The words outlandish and erratic can be used in similar contexts, but outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric. outlandish fashions of the time Although the words peculiar and erratic have much in common, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness. the peculiar status of America's first lady While in some cases nearly identical to erratic, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness. a quaint fishing village In some situations, the words singular and erratic are roughly equivalent. However, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness. a singular feeling of impending disaster While the synonyms strange and erratic are close in meaning, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable. a journey filled with strange sights The synonyms unique and erratic are sometimes interchangeable, but unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel. a career unique in the annals of science
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erratic

adjective

noun

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Example Sentences

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Medical Definition

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adjective

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