unpredictable
Cannot be foreseen
Unpredictable describes something whose future behavior or outcome cannot be known in advance.
Weather is notoriously unpredictable.
An unpredictable person acts in ways others can't anticipate—sometimes charmingly spontaneous, sometimes dangerously erratic: Living with him was exhausting; he was completely unpredictable.
The word often carries a note of warning or unease.
Subject to sudden changes
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- fickleErratically disloyal in affection
whimsical · moody · impulsive · changeable · inconstant · flighty · wayward · erratic
Capable of alteration
- unsettledNot yet resolved
- variableProne to fluctuation
- gustyMarked by sudden drafts
- squallyCharacterized by sudden gusts
stormy · temperamental · fickle · capricious · volatile · erratic · unreliable · mercurial
Lacking regularity or consistency
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- randomOccurring without pattern
- haphazardLacking organization or plan
inconsistent · fluctuating · variable · stochastic · aleatory · patternless · scattered · intermittent
Likely to cause injury
- precariousDangerously insecure
- riskyInvolving possible harm
- perilousFraught with danger
- dangerousApt to cause harm
treacherous · dicey · volatile · unstable · high-stakes · gambling · speculative · reckless
Violently agitated or disturbed
- tumultuousViolently agitated or disturbed
- unrulyDifficult to control
- anarchicWithout governing structure
- disorderlyNot arranged neatly
volatile · stormy · tempestuous · upheaval · pandemonium · bedlam · mayhem · havoc
Not firmly known
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
- iffyUncertain, questionable
- indeterminateNot exactly known
- unsettledNot yet resolved
ambiguous · speculative · questionable · nebulous · vague · unforeseeable · unknowable · incalculable
Not anticipated beforehand
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
- shockingCausing intense surprise
- astonishingCausing great wonder
- jaw-droppingExtremely surprising or impressive
blindsiding · bombshell · curveball · twist · stunning · eye-opening · unforeseen · unanticipated
capricious
Subject to sudden changes
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
fickle · whimsical · moody · impulsive · changeable · inconstant · flighty · wayward · erratic · quirky
changeable
Capable of alteration
squally · stormy · temperamental · fickle · capricious · volatile · erratic · unreliable · mercurial
erratic
Lacking regularity or consistency
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- randomOccurring without pattern
haphazard · inconsistent · fluctuating · variable · stochastic · aleatory · patternless · scattered · intermittent · fitful
hazardous
Likely to cause injury
- precariousDangerously insecure
- riskyInvolving possible harm
- perilousFraught with danger
dangerous · treacherous · dicey · volatile · unstable · high-stakes · gambling · speculative · reckless · daredevil
turbulent
Violently agitated or disturbed
- tumultuousViolently agitated or disturbed
- unrulyDifficult to control
- anarchicWithout governing structure
disorderly · volatile · stormy · tempestuous · upheaval · pandemonium · bedlam · mayhem · havoc · turmoil
uncertain
Not firmly known
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
- iffyUncertain, questionable
- indeterminateNot exactly known
unsettled · ambiguous · speculative · questionable · nebulous · vague · unforeseeable · unknowable · incalculable · tentative
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
- shockingCausing intense surprise
- astonishingCausing great wonder
jaw-dropping · blindsiding · bombshell · curveball · twist · stunning · eye-opening · unforeseen · unanticipated
- instabilityinstability, unsteadiness, shakiness, wobbliness, precariousness
- Inconsistencywishy-washy, flip-flop, fickle, unreliable, erratic
- unpredictableuncertain, unreliable, erratic, inconsistent, variable
- playstylesaggressive, defensive, passive, casual, competitive
- chancechance, luck, lottery, dice, randomness
- temperamentscholeric, phlegmatic, melancholic, sanguine, introvert
unpredictablepredictable
Able to be foreseen
foreseeable · certain · inevitable · expected · predetermined
unpredictableconstant
Fixed, unvarying quantity
consistent · stable · steady · unchanging · unvarying
unpredictablereliable
Consistently performing as expected
dependable · trustworthy · trusty · steady · sure
- unpredictable weatherAtmospheric conditions without pattern
unpredictability, unpredictably, unpredictables, unpredictabilities