Top 42 Similes for Unreliable with Explained Examples for 2025

When it comes to describing someone who is unreliable, using similes can make your writing more vivid and relatable.

Similes allow you to compare someone’s unreliability to something familiar, making it easier for your readers to understand the depth of the trait.

In this article, we will explore 42 creative similes for unreliable, each with a clear explanation and example to help you incorporate them into your writing.

What Are Similes and How Do They Enhance Writing?

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” It helps to create more detailed and imaginative descriptions by linking abstract concepts to familiar objects or experiences.

By using similes, writers can make their work more engaging and relatable, allowing readers to connect with the content on a deeper level.

Similes enhance language by vividly illustrating a character’s unreliability or someone’s inconsistent behavior.

Examples of similes to describe someone unreliable

As unreliable as a broken clock

Meaning: Something that is often wrong or inconsistent.
Example Sentences:

“He’s as unreliable as a broken clock, never showing up on time.”
“Her promises were as unreliable as a broken clock—always off by hours.”
Other Ways to Say:
As unpredictable as a faulty watch. 🕰️
As inconsistent as a malfunctioning timer. ⏲️

As unreliable as a leaky faucet

Meaning: Constantly leaking or failing to function as expected.
Example Sentences:

“Her commitment was as unreliable as a leaky faucet, dripping promises but never delivering.”
“He’s as unreliable as a leaky faucet, always causing problems when least expected.”
Other Ways to Say:
As inconsistent as a dripping tap. 💧
As unsteady as a faulty valve. 🚰

As unreliable as a weather vane in a storm

Meaning: Constantly changing and unable to provide clear direction.
Example Sentences:

“Her opinions were as unreliable as a weather vane in a storm, always shifting with the wind.”
“He’s as unreliable as a weather vane in a storm—never sticking to one decision.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fickle as a shifting breeze. 🌬️
As changeable as a stormy sky. ⛅

As unreliable as a house of cards

Meaning: Something that is easily destroyed or falls apart.
Example Sentences:

“His plans were as unreliable as a house of cards, collapsing at the slightest touch.”
“Her promises were as unreliable as a house of cards, ready to crumble with any pressure.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fragile as a paper tower. 📄
As unstable as a sandcastle. 🏖️

As unreliable as a sinking ship

Meaning: Likely to fail or fall apart.
Example Sentences:

“His support was as unreliable as a sinking ship, and we couldn’t count on him for long.”
“She’s as unreliable as a sinking ship—her plans always seem to go down in flames.”
Other Ways to Say:
As doomed as a capsizing boat. 🚢
As shaky as a leaky vessel. ⛴️

As unreliable as a mirage

Meaning: Something that appears real but is ultimately unattainable.
Example Sentences:

“Her promises were as unreliable as a mirage, always disappearing when you got close.”
“His sincerity was as unreliable as a mirage, fading the moment you tried to touch it.”
Other Ways to Say:
As elusive as a desert illusion. 🏜️
As deceptive as a phantom. 👻

Common similes for an untrustworthy person

As unreliable as a shadow at noon

Meaning: Something that is hard to trust or is constantly shifting.
Example Sentences:

“His loyalty was as unreliable as a shadow at noon, always shifting and hard to follow.”
“Her attention span was as unreliable as a shadow at noon, vanishing the moment you needed it.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fleeting as a midday shadow. 🌞
As inconsistent as a passing cloud. ☁️

As unreliable as a runaway train

Meaning: Out of control and unpredictable.
Example Sentences:

“His decisions were as unreliable as a runaway train, barreling ahead without any sense of direction.”
“Her behavior was as unreliable as a runaway train, always unpredictable and chaotic.”
Other Ways to Say:
As reckless as an out-of-control car. 🚗
As wild as a speeding locomotive. 🚆

As unreliable as a faulty light bulb

Meaning: Frequently malfunctioning or inconsistent.
Example Sentences:

“Her moods were as unreliable as a faulty light bulb, flickering on and off without warning.”
“His promises were as unreliable as a faulty light bulb, dimming when you needed them most.”
Other Ways to Say:
As inconsistent as a blown fuse. 🔌
As unreliable as a dying battery. 🔋

As unreliable as a broken pencil

Meaning: Something that is useless or ineffective when needed.
Example Sentences:

“His advice was as unreliable as a broken pencil—no good when you need it.”
“Her support was as unreliable as a broken pencil, always falling short when the situation required it.”
Other Ways to Say:
As useless as a shattered pen. 🖊️
As ineffective as a cracked ruler. 📏

As unreliable as a paper umbrella in a storm

Meaning: Easily destroyed or rendered useless under pressure.
Example Sentences:

“His promises were as unreliable as a paper umbrella in a storm—falling apart the moment things got tough.”
“She’s as unreliable as a paper umbrella in a storm, unable to handle any challenges that come her way.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fragile as a tissue in the rain. 🌧️
As delicate as a paper kite in the wind. 🪁

As unreliable as a wet match

Meaning: Impossible to ignite or rely on when needed.
Example Sentences:

“His efforts were as unreliable as a wet match, never sparking when you needed them to.”
“Her commitment was as unreliable as a wet match, fizzling out before it could even begin.”
Other Ways to Say:
As ineffective as a damp firestarter. 🔥
As untrustworthy as a soggy firelog. 🌲

Creative similes for inconsistency and unreliability

As unreliable as a broken compass

Meaning: Always leading in the wrong direction.
Example Sentences:

“His advice was as unreliable as a broken compass, leading me further away from my goals.”
“She’s as unreliable as a broken compass, always pointing me in the wrong direction.”
Other Ways to Say:
As misguided as a lost map. 🗺️
As directionless as a faulty GPS. 📍

As unreliable as a cloud in the sky

Meaning: Constantly changing and hard to trust.
Example Sentences:

“Her promises were as unreliable as a cloud in the sky, constantly shifting and disappearing.”
“His behavior was as unreliable as a cloud in the sky, never staying the same for long.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fleeting as a passing storm. 🌩️
As unpredictable as a drifting cloud. ☁️

As unreliable as a coin toss

Meaning: Completely random and uncertain.
Example Sentences:

“His decisions were as unreliable as a coin toss—always left to chance.”
“Her loyalty was as unreliable as a coin toss, one moment heads, the next tails.”
Other Ways to Say:
As unpredictable as a dice roll. 🎲
As uncertain as flipping a coin. 🪙

As unreliable as a rubber band

Meaning: Something that stretches but can snap at any moment.
Example Sentences:

“His patience was as unreliable as a rubber band, stretching thin and snapping when least expected.”
“Her promises were as unreliable as a rubber band, always snapping under pressure.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fragile as an elastic cord. 🧵
As unstable as a snapped string. 🎶

As unreliable as a flickering light

Meaning: Inconsistent and often failing to work properly.
Example Sentences:

“His mood was as unreliable as a flickering light, never stable and always changing.”
“Her attention was as unreliable as a flickering light, always dimming when you needed it most.”
Other Ways to Say:
As erratic as a malfunctioning bulb. 💡
As inconsistent as a dimming torch. 🔦

As unreliable as a patched tire

Meaning: Something that can’t be fully trusted because it’s been fixed but still prone to failure.
Example Sentences:

“His reliability was as unreliable as a patched tire, always on the verge of breaking down.”
“Her efforts were as unreliable as a patched tire, never holding up for long.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fragile as a glued crack. 🛠️
As unstable as a mended roof. 🏚️

As unreliable as a faulty alarm clock

Meaning: Often fails when needed the most.
Example Sentences:

“His punctuality was as unreliable as a faulty alarm clock, always failing to wake him on time.”
“Her plans were as unreliable as a faulty alarm clock, never going off when expected.”
Other Ways to Say:
As unpredictable as a broken timer. ⏰
As inconsistent as a delayed notification. 📱

As unreliable as a half-finished puzzle

Meaning: Something that is incomplete and untrustworthy.
Example Sentences:

“His promises were as unreliable as a half-finished puzzle, always leaving something undone.”
“Her commitment was as unreliable as a half-finished puzzle, never fully coming together.”
Other Ways to Say:
As incomplete as an unsolved mystery. 🕵️‍♂️
As inconsistent as a missing piece. 🧩

Similes for a person who breaks promises

As unreliable as a sandcastle at high tide

Meaning: Something that is bound to collapse or fail under pressure.
Example Sentences:

“His plans were as unreliable as a sandcastle at high tide, always washed away when the situation became difficult.”
“Her confidence was as unreliable as a sandcastle at high tide, crumbling the moment things got tough.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fragile as a tide-drenched fortress. 🏖️
As unstable as a beach sculpture. 🌊

As unreliable as a snowflake in a heatwave

Meaning: Something that is completely out of place or bound to disappear under the wrong conditions.
Example Sentences:

“His plans were as unreliable as a snowflake in a heatwave, never lasting long enough to make a difference.”
“Her mood was as unreliable as a snowflake in a heatwave, melting away the moment things got too hot.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fleeting as a summer frost. ❄️
As inconsistent as a melting icicle. 🌡️

As unreliable as a balloon in a room full of pins

Meaning: Vulnerable and easily destroyed.
Example Sentences:

“His reputation was as unreliable as a balloon in a room full of pins, always ready to pop under pressure.”
“Her confidence was as unreliable as a balloon in a room full of pins, easily deflated by the smallest comment.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fragile as a glass ornament. 🎄
As delicate as a bubble in the wind. 🫧

As unreliable as a broken pencil in an exam

Meaning: Something that is no longer functional when needed most.
Example Sentences:

“His help was as unreliable as a broken pencil in an exam, unable to assist when it counted.”
“Her support was as unreliable as a broken pencil in an exam, useless at the moment of need.”
Other Ways to Say:
As ineffective as a torn page. 📄
As useless as a missing eraser. 🧑‍🎓

As unreliable as a foggy mirror

Meaning: Something unclear or difficult to trust.
Example Sentences:

“His intentions were as unreliable as a foggy mirror, always hard to see through.”
“Her words were as unreliable as a foggy mirror, never reflecting the truth.”
Other Ways to Say:
As unclear as a misted window. 🌫️
As ambiguous as a clouded lens. 👓

As unreliable as a deflating tire

Meaning: Something that loses its function over time.
Example Sentences:

“His promises were as unreliable as a deflating tire, slowly losing air with every passing moment.”
“Her enthusiasm was as unreliable as a deflating tire, fading just when it was most needed.”
Other Ways to Say:
As deflating as a popped balloon. 🎈
As unreliable as a punctured tire. 🚗

As unreliable as a rusted key

Meaning: Something that no longer works as expected.
Example Sentences:

“His advice was as unreliable as a rusted key, failing to open the doors it once did.”
“Her plans were as unreliable as a rusted key, no longer unlocking any possibilities.”
Other Ways to Say:
As broken as a corroded lock. 🔒
As ineffective as a jammed door. 🚪

As unreliable as a frozen lake

Meaning: Something that can crack or break under pressure.
Example Sentences:

“His loyalty was as unreliable as a frozen lake, cracking when the weight of responsibility grew too much.”
“Her decisions were as unreliable as a frozen lake, unpredictable and prone to breaking.”
Other Ways to Say:
As unstable as a brittle sheet of ice. ❄️
As fragile as a frozen pond. 🌨️

Funny similes for someone who can’t be trusted

As unreliable as a paper airplane

Meaning: Something that can easily be thrown off course or destroyed.
Example Sentences:

“His plans were as unreliable as a paper airplane, soaring for a moment before crashing down.”
“Her goals were as unreliable as a paper airplane, easily swayed by the slightest breeze.”
Other Ways to Say:
As fragile as a folded note. 📄
As fleeting as a flying paper. ✈️

As unreliable as a faulty remote control

Meaning: Often malfunctioning when you need it most.
Example Sentences:

“His attention was as unreliable as a faulty remote control, never responding when needed.”
“Her focus was as unreliable as a faulty remote control, constantly losing signal.”
Other Ways to Say:
As inconsistent as a broken button. 🔲
As unreliable as a dead battery. 🔋

As unreliable as a broken bridge

Meaning: Something that can’t provide support or stability.
Example Sentences:

“His promises were as unreliable as a broken bridge, unable to carry any weight.”
“Her support was as unreliable as a broken bridge, leaving me stranded when I needed it most.”
Other Ways to Say:
As unstable as a collapsed archway. 🏰
As unreliable as a crumbling overpass. 🚧

As unreliable as a half-baked cake

Meaning: Something that is incomplete or not fully developed.
Example Sentences:

“His plans were as unreliable as a half-baked cake, lacking the structure to stand on their own.”
“Her ideas were as unreliable as a half-baked cake, falling apart when put to the test.”
Other Ways to Say:
As unfinished as an undercooked dish. 🍰
As weak as a soggy dessert. 🍩

Practical Exercise – Similes for Unreliable

Part 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence by choosing the correct simile for unreliability.

His promises were like ________, disappearing the moment you relied on them.
a) footprints in the sand
b) a sturdy bridge
c) a locked treasure chest
d) an unbreakable chain
Trusting him was as foolish as counting on ________ to stay still.
a) a shifting shadow
b) a mountain
c) a concrete wall
d) a frozen lake
Her loyalty was like ________, never staying in one place for too long.
a) a butterfly in the wind
b) an anchor in the sea
c) a tree with deep roots
d) a lighthouse in a storm
Depending on him was like leaning on ________ for support.
a) a house of cards
b) a strong pillar
c) a steel beam
d) a mountain rock
His excuses were as predictable as ________.
a) a coin flip
b) the rising sun
c) a ticking clock
d) the changing seasons

Part 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the best answer for each question.

Which of the following is a simile for someone unreliable?
a) He was as steady as a ship in a storm.
b) His word was as solid as shifting sand.
c) She was as reliable as the sunrise.
d) Trusting her was like holding onto a sturdy rope.
What simile best describes someone who frequently changes their mind?
a) She was as firm as a rock in the river.
b) His loyalty was like a candle in the wind.
c) Depending on him was as safe as a locked vault.
d) She was like a compass pointing north.
Which simile suggests that someone is not trustworthy?
a) His honesty was as clear as glass.
b) Her commitment was as flaky as peeling paint.
c) He was as steady as a mountain peak.
d) Depending on him was like standing on solid ground.
What simile best describes someone who often cancels plans?
a) His word was as solid as a steel bridge.
b) Her promises were like clouds on a windy day.
c) He was as reliable as a clock tower.
d) Depending on her was as secure as a safe deposit box.
Which simile best describes a person who can’t be counted on?
a) He was as constant as the moon’s phases.
b) She was as steady as a tall oak tree.
c) Depending on him was like writing in the sand at high tide.
d) Her word was as strong as a diamond.

Answer Key

a) footprints in the sand
a) a shifting shadow
a) a butterfly in the wind
a) a house of cards
a) a coin flip
b) His word was as solid as shifting sand.
b) His loyalty was like a candle in the wind.
b) Her commitment was as flaky as peeling paint.
b) Her promises were like clouds on a windy day.
c) Depending on him was like writing in the sand at high tide.

Conclusion

Similes are a wonderful way to add depth and color to your descriptions, especially when discussing something as intangible as unreliability.

The 42 similes for unreliable provided here offer a variety of creative comparisons to help you make your writing more vivid and engaging.

If you’re writing a novel, a poem, or just trying to express frustration in a conversation, these similes can help you communicate more effectively and with flair.

John Marlow