reliable

[ ri-lahy-uh-buhl ]

/ rɪˈlaɪ ə bəl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for reliable on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

COMPARE MEANINGS

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

OTHER WORDS FOR reliable

trusty, authentic, consistent.

See synonyms for reliable on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR reliable

undependable, questionable, deceitful.

See antonyms for reliable on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of reliable

First recorded in 1560–70; rely + -able

synonym study for reliable

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 WORDS FROM reliable

re·li·a·bil·i·ty, re·li·a·ble·ness, nounre·li·a·bly, adverbnon·re·li·a·ble, adjectivenon·re·li·a·ble·ness, noun

non·re·li·a·bly, adverbqua·si-re·li·a·ble, adjectivequa·si-re·li·a·bly, adverbul·tra·re·li·a·ble, adjectiveul·tra·re·li·a·ble·ly, adverb

Words nearby reliable

relevance, relevant, relevé, relexify, reliability, reliable, reliance, reliant, relic, relic area, relict

How to use reliable in a sentence

When their story came out last week, they said that they had gotten the report from a reliable source.
Politics Report: Forged Footnote 15|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|September 12, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Another big concern for many families is getting reliable access to computers and the internet so that students can participate in school from home.
Healthy screen time is one challenge of distance learning|Kathryn Hulick|September 11, 2020|Science News For Students
Google clearly documents in there their goals for the search results, which types of queries require a higher level of authoritative and reliable sources, and which do not.
Google now uses BERT to match stories with fact checks|Barry Schwartz|September 10, 2020|Search Engine Land
As a result, researchers don’t have good, reliable data on how the coronavirus spreads — which is fairly important if you’re trying to put together a model to show you ways to prevent the spread.
Coronavirus Models Were Always About More Than Flattening The Curve|Maggie Koerth (maggie.koerth-baker@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 10, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

Many beer brewers, however, would rather your IPA have the same reliable flavor whether you pop open the bottle this Friday or in October.
How does a crop’s environment shape a food’s smell and taste?|Carolyn Beans|September 10, 2020|Science News
Huckabee will also need to establish a reliable fundraising base, something that up until now has proved to be elusive.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen?|Lloyd Green|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The jet engine instantly brought two advances over propellers: it doubled the speed and it was far more reliable.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
No longer does it constitute a reliable, middle class-based alternative to the corporatist mindset of the Republicans.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Be reliable supports of the Songun revolution possessed of a lofty spirit and rich knowledge!
North Korea's Top College: Brainwash U|Justin Rohrlich|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How reliable were the other witnesses, given the extraordinarily charged atmosphere surrounding this case?
Ferguson’s Grand Jury Bought Darren Wilson’s Story|Paul Campos|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The remaining figures, being taken from census returns and other reliable authorities, are more satisfactory.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
Even genius, however, needs direction and adjustment to secure the most perfect and reliable results.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Here they are seldom abundant, but their constant presence is the most reliable urinary sign of the disease.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
They make no such time as is currently reported on our side, and are by no means reliable for punctuality.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
It is difficult to make, and should be purchased ready prepared from a reliable dealer.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for reliable

reliable

/ (rɪˈlaɪəbəl) /

adjective

able to be trusted; predictable or dependable

Derived forms of reliable

reliability or rare reliableness, nounreliably, adverb

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

reliable

COMPARE MEANINGS

OTHER WORDS FOR reliable

OPPOSITES FOR reliable

Origin of reliable

synonym study for reliable

OTHER WORDS FROM reliable

Words nearby reliable

Words related to reliable

How to use reliable in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reliable

Derived forms of reliable