Dependability
What it means
The quality of being consistently ready, reliable, and worthy of trust.
Reach for it when praising follow-through that others can safely plan around
The ferry crew's dependability keeps island deliveries on schedule.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
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| warm | |
| professional |
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| formal | |
| literary |
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everyday
consistency
Fits when stable behavior or quality over repeated occasions is central
Careful Consistency can preserve a bad habit and does not itself imply usefulness.
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warm
steadiness
Fits when calm, even performance under pressure earns praise
Careful Steadiness does not guarantee that promises are kept.
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professional
Fits when consistent performance can be observed or measured
Careful Reliability can describe a machine and lacks the personal trust in dependability.
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professional
Fits when ownership of duties and consequences is the point
Careful Responsibility names an obligation as well as a virtue, while dependability is proved by results.
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formal
Fits when honesty and safe reliance on character matter
Careful Someone can be trustworthy with secrets yet unavailable for practical duties.
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literary
constancy
Fits when faithful continuation over a long period deserves emphasis
Careful Constancy may sound romantic or old-fashioned in a performance review.
Opposites 3
- unreliability
- inconsistency
- fickleness
Common phrases 3
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proven dependability
The pump's proven dependability justified using it at the remote station.
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value dependability
Parents value dependability in the drivers who run the school route.
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dependability under pressure
Her dependability under pressure made her the natural shift leader.
Word family 2
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated