unstable source

[/ʌnˈsteɪbəl sɔːrs/]
nounpl: unstable sources
fonte instável
1. A source of information, supply, or energy that is unreliable, inconsistent, or prone to sudden changes or failure
The company cannot rely on that unstable source of funding for its long-term projects.
A empresa não pode contar com essa fonte instável de financiamento para seus projetos de longo prazo.
2. In scientific or technical contexts, a source that produces inconsistent, variable, or unpredictable outputs
The unstable source of the laser made the experiment results unreliable.
A fonte instável do laser tornou os resultados do experimento pouco confiáveis.
3. An origin or supply that lacks stability and may become unavailable or change without warning
Researchers warn against using that unstable source as a reference for critical data.
Pesquisadores alertam contra o uso dessa fonte instável como referência para dados críticos.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, 'unstable source' is a critical term in academic, journalistic, and scientific discourse, emphasizing the importance of source reliability and credibility. It reflects a shared cultural value on evidence-based knowledge and trustworthy information in professional and educational settings.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
unreliable sourceinconsistent sourceprecarious sourceunpredictable sourcevolatile source
Antonyms / Antônimos
stable sourcereliable sourceconsistent sourcesteady source

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
fonte instável
Standard usage in academic and technical contexts
São Paulo
fonte instável
Commonly used in business and scientific discourse
Rio de Janeiro
fonte instável
Standard usage, sometimes informally 'fonte fraca'
Portugal
fonte instável
Standard European Portuguese equivalent

Related Words

instabilityreliabilitysource verificationcredibilityvolatilityconsistency

Related Idioms & Phrases

a house built on sand
skating on thin ice
standing on shaky ground
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