Definitions for: Reliable


[adj] worthy of reliance or trust; "a reliable source of information"; "a dependable worker"
[adj] conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief; "an authentic account by an eyewitness"; "reliable information"
[adj] worthy of being depended on; "a dependable worker"; "an honest working stiff"; "a reliable source of information"; "he was true to his word"; "I would be true for there are those who trust me"



Webster (1913) Definition: Re*li"a*ble (r?-l?"?-b'l), a.
Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependance or
reliance; trustworthy. ``A reliable witness to the truth of
the miracles.'' --A. Norton.

The best means, and most reliable pledge, of a higher
object. --Coleridge.

According to General Livingston's humorous account, his
own village of Elizabethtown was not much more
reliable, being peopled in those agitated times by
``unknown, unrecommended strangers, guilty-looking
Tories, and very knavish Whigs.'' --W. Irving.

Note: Some authors take exception to this word, maintaining
that it is unnecessary, and irregular in formation. It
is, however, sanctioned by the practice of many careful
writers as a most convenient substitute for the phrase
to be relied upon, and a useful synonym for
trustworthy, which is by preference applied to persons,
as reliable is to things, such as an account,
statement, or the like. The objection that adjectives
derived from neuter verbs do not admit of a passive
sense is met by the citation of laughable, worthy of
being laughed at, from the neuter verb to laugh;
available, fit or able to be availed of, from the
neuter verb to avail; dispensable, capable of being
dispensed with, from the neuter verb to dispense. Other
examples might be added. -- Re*li"a*ble*ness, n. --
Re*li"a*bly, adv.

Synonyms: authentic, certain, dependable, honest, straight, sure, tested, time-tested, tried, tried and true, true, true(p), undeviating

Antonyms: undependable, unreliable

See Also: trustworthy, trusty

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