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Synonyms

dependable

American  
[dih-pen-duh-buhl] / dɪˈpɛn də bəl /

adjective

  1. capable of being depended on; worthy of trust; reliable.

    a dependable employee.
    Synonyms:
    responsible, faithful, steadfast, trusty, trustworthy
dependable British  
/ dɪˈpɛndəbəl /

adjective

  1. able to be depended on; reliable; trustworthy

"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

Other Word Forms

  • dependability noun
  • dependableness noun
  • dependably adverb
  • interdependable adjective
  • nondependable adjective
  • nondependableness noun
  • nondependably adverb
  • predependable adjective
  • undependable adjective
  • undependableness noun
  • undependably adverb

Etymology

Origin of dependable

First recorded in 1725–35; depend + -able

Compare meaning

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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.

The Ports of Jersey said fuel was sourced from a diverse range of countries, which helped it maintain "a dependable and resilient supply chain".

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

“We welcome TotalEnergies’ commitment to developing projects that produce dependable, affordable power to lower Americans’ monthly bills while providing secure U.S. baseload power today-and in the future,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Still, Proton VPN’s privacy-first design and open-source transparency make it a dependable choice for users who value secure access to global content — even if it’s not the fastest.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Over the show’s seven-season run, Brendon became a central figure, portraying the witty, insecure but dependable “everyman” in the gang’s battles against the forces of darkness.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

He was dependable and strong, and storekeepers often paid him a few dollars to move boxes or clean up after hours.

From "Forged by Fire" by Sharon M. Draper

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.