erratically

[ ih-rat-ik-lee ]

adverb

1. in a way that deviates from what is normal or proper:

   When other employees noticed she was behaving erratically, the store installed cameras and caught her stealing pills.

2. without any definite direction or pattern; in an irregular or inconsistent way:

   The cyclone moved erratically westward and southward for two days while slowly strengthening into a tropical storm.

   Since I was fourteen I've kept a journal, albeit somewhat erratically at times.

Other Words From

• non·er·rat·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of erratically¹

First recorded in 1610–20; erratic ( def ) + -ally ( def )

Example Sentences

He would strike 'knuckleballs', where rather than the ball spiralling through the air cleanly, it would wobble erratically.

From BBC

The father-of-two was under the influence of drugs, carrying a knife and behaving erratically when members of the public first contacted the police.

From BBC

Police were called when the woman, who was not a guest at the motel, began acting erratically and locked herself into a motel room.

From Los Angeles Times

A witness saw the BMW being "reversed at speed", "doing donuts" and being driven erratically before the crash.

From BBC

Rolling Stone's sources say that with Trump reacting erratically to Harris' ascendance, his aides have not briefed the former president on the data or their concerns in fear that it would only upset him.

From Salon

Related Words

• carelessly