inconsistent
inconsistent — adjective
1. used to describe a set of ideas, statements, or facts where one part opposes ano
used to describe a set of ideas, statements, or facts where one part opposes another part, so that they cannot all be correct at the same time
The witness gave two inconsistent accounts of what happened that night.
inconsistent + accounts / statements / claims
Salma's views on climate change are inconsistent with the company's green policies.
be inconsistent with [something]
It seems inconsistent to praise healthy living while selling sugary drinks in the school canteen.
The data from the two experiments were inconsistent, so the team ran both tests again.
- contradictory
stronger than inconsistent; contradictory claims directly deny each other, whereas inconsistent claims simply do not fit together
- incompatible
focuses on two things being unable to exist or work together, while inconsistent is about factual or logical disagreement
- conflicting
less formal than inconsistent, often used for schedules, interests, or opinions that oppose each other
- consistent
the direct opposite; a set of ideas where all parts agree with one another
文法句型
be inconsistent with [noun phrase]
it is inconsistent to [verb] ... while [verb] ...
用法筆記
Frequently followed by the preposition 'with' to indicate what the subject does not match. The subject is usually an idea, claim, statement, or piece of evidence.
常見錯誤
2. changing so often in quality or conduct that the person or thing becomes difficu
changing so often in quality or conduct that the person or thing becomes difficult to trust or rely on
The team's inconsistent performance frustrated their coach throughout the season.
inconsistent + performance / quality / results
Hassan has been inconsistent in his attendance this term, missing nearly one class out of three.
be inconsistent in [something]
The Wi-Fi signal upstairs is inconsistent, so video calls often freeze or drop.
Inês is an inconsistent player — some days she scores well, and other days she misses easy chances.
- erratic
emphasises unpredictable and irregular change, often with a stronger negative tone than inconsistent
- variable
more neutral than inconsistent; describes something that naturally changes without implying fault
- uneven
specifically describes quality that varies between high and low, especially in work or performance
- consistent
describes behaviour or quality that stays steady and dependable over time
- steady
emphasises reliability and lack of unwanted change in performance or behaviour
文法句型
inconsistent + noun (performance / quality / results)
be inconsistent in [gerund / noun phrase]
用法筆記
Often used attributively (before a noun) to describe things whose quality varies from one time to another, such as performance, service, or results. Commonly describes a person's behaviour, work, or skill level.