Synonyms

reliable

American

[ri-lahy-uh-buhl] / rɪˈlaɪ ə bəl /

adjective

that may be relied on or trusted; dependable in achievement, accuracy, honesty, etc..

reliable information.

Synonyms:

consistent, authentic, trusty

Antonyms:

deceitful, questionable, undependable

reliable British

/ rɪˈlaɪəbəl /

adjective

able to be trusted; predictable or dependable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

Reliable, infallible, trustworthy apply to persons, objects, ideas, or information that can be depended upon with confident certainty. Reliable suggests consistent dependability of judgment, character, performance, or result: a reliable formula, judge, car, meteorologist. Infallible suggests the complete absence of error, breakdown, or poor performance: an infallible test, system, marksman. Trustworthy emphasizes the steady and honest dependability which encourages one's confidence, belief, or trust: trustworthy and accurate reports.

Other Word Forms

nonreliable adjective
nonreliableness noun
nonreliably adverb
quasi-reliable adjective
quasi-reliably adverb
reliability noun
reliableness noun
reliably adverb
ultrareliable adjective
ultrareliablely adverb

Etymology

Origin of reliable

First recorded in 1560–70; rely + -able

Compare meaning

How does reliable compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

reliable vs. dependable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Demographically, the workforce is shrinking, so companies will need more reliable and seasoned workers.

From MarketWatch

“The best way to have a predictable and reliable horizon on our energy is to increase the homegrown production of energy,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the fog of war, precise data is scarce and the battlefield is shifting too fast for investors to pin down a reliable damage assessment.

From The Wall Street Journal

While the API has a meeting every March, this time they will discuss the role of American oil and natural gas in supporting reliable energy supply amid global volatility.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023