If you’re unsure how to describe a person who simply never follows through with what they say they’ll do, you’ve come to the right place!
Below, we’ve compiled a list of one-word terms and catchy phrases for the person who always lets you down. Moreover, we’ll discuss three of our choices in detail!
Words for Someone Who Doesn’t Follow Through
- Flake
- Renege
- All talk
- Flighty
- Unreliable
- Inconsistent
- Akrasia
- Irresponsible
- Untrustworthy
- Procrastinator
- Fickle
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- When someone is unreliable and doesn’t follow through with plans, you can call them a “flake.”
- To “renege” is to fail to carry out a promise or agreement.
- If someone commits themselves to many things but doesn’t pitch up when the time comes, they are “all talk.”
Keep reading to see how we use our top three words and phrases for someone who doesn’t follow through in some helpful example sentences!
Flake
“Flake” is a good nickname for someone who never does what they say they’ll do.
Merriam-Webster defines a “flake” as “a person who is flaky.” Moreover, “flaky” is defined as “not reliable in performance or behavior.”
In short, if you have a friend or family member who constantly makes plans or promises but always ends up letting you down, you can call them a “flake.”
Consider the following examples:
We love Joel, but he’s a total flake, so don’t expect him to show up no matter how far ahead you send out the invite.
I don’t mean to be a flake; I just have terrible time management skills and can’t keep track of the things I commit to.
Renege
“Renege” is a verb that essentially refers to the act of not following through on a promise or commitment.
According to the Collins Dictionary, “if someone reneges on a promise or an agreement, they do not do what they have promised or agreed to do.”
Therefore, you wouldn’t use this word to describe someone who says they will do something but doesn’t.
However, you can use it to describe the action of withdrawing from their promise and ultimately letting you down as a result.
Have a look at the examples below to see this term in action:
If there’s anything I can predict about your aunt, it’s that she will renege on every promise she makes.
You won’t maintain relationships if you keep reneging on your promises.
All Talk
“All talk” is a great example of what to call someone who doesn’t do what they say they will.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, someone who is “all talk” “talks about doing something but never does it.”
Therefore, if someone is constantly making promises and getting others’ hopes up only to never follow through with what they’ve said, you can say they are “all talk.”
This phrase links back to the age-old proverb: “actions speak louder than words.”
Thus, when you say that someone is “all talk”, you are being critical of the fact that it’s easy to make promises. However, how you act is a true reflection of your character.
Finally, let’s see this phrase used in a couple of example sentences:
Garret is all talk; he’s never actually coming to visit.
I don’t believe a single thing she tells me – she’s all talk and no action.