volatile
Prone to eruption
Volatile describes something liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, usually for the worse.
A volatile situation could erupt at any moment.
A volatile personality swings between emotional extremes.
Volatile markets see dramatic price swings.
In chemistry, volatile substances evaporate quickly at normal temperatures—gasoline is highly volatile.
The thread connecting these uses is instability: what's volatile won't stay put.
Shifting irregularly over time
- unstableProne to sudden change
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- variableProne to fluctuation
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
turbulent · shifting · unsettled · inconstant · wavering · irregular · capricious · mercurial
Prone to sudden change
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
moody · explosive · hotheaded · quick-tempered · fiery · impulsive · irascible · touchy
Capable of burning
- flammableProne to ignition
- ignitableAble to catch flame
- reactiveTending to respond
- unstableProne to sudden change
detonation · nitroglycerin · dynamite · TNT · incendiary · pyrotechnic · propellant · oxidizer
Lasting very briefly
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
- short-livedLasting only briefly
momentary · passing · impermanent · fugitive · vanishing · dissipating · elusive · brief
Gaseous form of liquid
- fumesAirborne chemical irritants
- solventDissolving liquid or financially stable
- ethanolDrinkable volatile spirit
- acetoneVolatile organic solvent
gasoline · ether · benzene · alcohol · propellant · aerosol · sublimate · distill
Venue for trade
- stockGoods kept for sale
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- priceMonetary value assigned
- tradingExchanging for value
speculation · investor · swing · fluctuation · risk · uncertainty · downturn · rally
fluctuating
Shifting irregularly over time
- unstableProne to sudden change
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- variableProne to fluctuation
erratic · turbulent · shifting · unsettled · inconstant · wavering · irregular · capricious · mercurial · fitful
mercurial
Prone to sudden change
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
unpredictable · moody · explosive · hotheaded · quick-tempered · fiery · impulsive · irascible · touchy · combustible
combustible
Capable of burning
unstable · detonation · nitroglycerin · dynamite · TNT · incendiary · pyrotechnic · propellant · oxidizer · flashpoint
ephemeral
Lasting very briefly
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
short-lived · momentary · passing · impermanent · fugitive · vanishing · dissipating · elusive · brief · temporary
vapor
Gaseous form of liquid
- fumesAirborne chemical irritants
- solventDissolving liquid or financially stable
- ethanolDrinkable volatile spirit
acetone · gasoline · ether · benzene · alcohol · propellant · aerosol · sublimate · distill · off-gas
market
Venue for trade
trading · speculation · investor · swing · fluctuation · risk · uncertainty · downturn · rally · correction
- hot-temperedhotheaded, quick-tempered, hair-trigger, fiery, explosive
- adjectivesbig, urgent, amazing, temporary, bold
- chaosmayhem, chaotic, pandemonium, bedlam, turmoil
- dramatic tonesintense, tense, suspenseful, ominous, foreboding
- emotionaldramatic, hysterical, weepy, tearful, melodramatic
- irritabilitycranky, grouchy, grumpy, irritated, annoyed
volatilestable
Secure and unchanging
steady · constant · unchanging · consistent · invariable
volatilecalm
Free from agitation
even-tempered · placid · serene · composed · unflappable
volatilenonvolatile
Resistant to evaporation
stable · fixed · nonflammable · inert · refractory
- market volatilityRapid price fluctuation severity
- volatile substancesEasily evaporating chemical materials
- emotional volatilityRapid, unpredictable feeling changes
- volatile fatty acidsShort-chain carboxylic metabolites
- volatile memoryStorage requiring constant power
- volatile chemicalCompound that readily vaporizes
volatility, volatilize, volatiles, volatilization, nonvolatile, volatilized, volatilities, volatilizes