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dependable

[dih-pen-duh-buhl]
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adjective
  1. capable of being depended on; worthy of trust; reliable: a dependable employee.
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Origin of dependable

First recorded in 1725–35; depend + -able
Related formsde·pend·a·bil·i·ty, de·pend·a·ble·ness, nounde·pend·a·bly, adverbin·ter·de·pend·a·bil·i·ty, nounin·ter·de·pend·a·ble, adjectivenon·de·pend·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·de·pend·a·ble, adjectivenon·de·pend·a·ble·ness, nounnon·de·pend·a·bly, adverbpre·de·pend·a·ble, adjectiveun·de·pend·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·de·pend·a·ble, adjectiveun·de·pend·a·ble·ness, nounun·de·pend·a·bly, adverb

Synonyms

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trustworthy, trusty, trusted, steadfast, faithful, responsible.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

unreliablebumcapriciouscarelesschangeabledubiouserraticficklefly-by-nightinconsistentinconstantindefiniteindeterminateloosetreacheroustricktrickyuncertainunpredictableunsafe

Examples from the Web for undependable

Historical Examples

  • The trouble was that she got involved with undependable trades.

    L'Assommoir

    Emile Zola

  • "They get thicker every day," he complained in a thin, undependable falsetto.

  • Their memories of the protection and privileges granted them were short and undependable.

    The Weakling

    Everett B. Cole

  • "Our telegraph system is undependable," was all that the other, the younger, Randon answered.

    Cytherea

    Joseph Hergesheimer

  • I know Miss Betsey believes him to be sneaking and undependable.

    Madge Morton's Trust

    Amy D. V. Chalmers

British Dictionary definitions for undependable

dependable

adjective
  1. able to be depended on; reliable; trustworthy
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Derived Formsdependability or dependableness, noundependably, 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

Word Origin and History for undependable

dependable

adj.

1735; se depend + -able. Related: Dependability; dependably.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper