Meaning & use
inconsistent
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Not matching something else, so that both cannot be true or right together.
Grammar: Takes with: inconsistent with the facts.
Patterns
- inconsistent with something
His story is inconsistent with the video.
The results were inconsistent with our earlier tests.
Her actions were inconsistent with her promises.
adjectivecomparable
Changing in quality or behavior from one time to the next.
Grammar: No preposition needed: an inconsistent performance.
The team has been inconsistent this season.
An inconsistent teacher gave different rules each week.
The Wi-Fi in this building is inconsistent.
adjectivecomparable
Containing parts that contradict each other.
Grammar: Describes arguments, statements and plans.
The witness gave an inconsistent account.
The rules are inconsistent and confusing.
Word forms
| comparative | more inconsistent |
|---|---|
| superlative | most inconsistent |
Common combinations
- inconsistent with the evidence
- The theory is inconsistent with the evidence.
- wildly inconsistent
- His marks were wildly inconsistent.
- an inconsistent performance
- The singer gave an inconsistent performance.
- inconsistent results
- The experiment produced inconsistent results.
- inconsistent behavior
- Inconsistent behavior confuses children.
Synonyms and how they differ
- contradictory
- Contradictory is stronger and says two things directly oppose each other, while inconsistent can mean merely not matching.
- erratic
- Erratic stresses unpredictable, jumpy behavior, whereas inconsistent can be mild.
- uneven
- Uneven describes quality that varies within one thing, and sounds a little softer.
- incompatible
- Incompatible says two things cannot work or exist together, while inconsistent may only mean they do not match.
Opposites
Word family
- inconsistency noun
- a lack of agreement or steadiness
- inconsistently adverb
- in a way that varies or contradicts
- consistent adjective
- staying the same or in agreement
- consistency noun
- the quality of staying the same
Commonly confused: inconsistent or inconsequential?
inconsistent vs inconsequential
Inconsequential means unimportant, while inconsistent means not matching or not steady.
Practice
The suspect's statement was ___ the security footage.
Choose one answer.
Inconsistent takes the preposition with when comparing two things that conflict. The other prepositions are not used in that pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “inconsistent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.