capricious

[ kuh-prish-uhs, -pree-shuhs ]

adjective

1. subject to, led by, or indicative of a sudden, odd notion or unpredictable change; erratic:

   He's such a capricious boss I never know how he'll react.

   Synonyms: mercurial, flighty, variable

   Antonyms: consistent, constant, steady

2. Obsolete. fanciful or witty.

capricious

/ kəˈprɪʃəs /

adjective

1. characterized by or liable to sudden unpredictable changes in attitude or behaviour; impulsive; fickle

Derived Forms

• caˈpriciousness, noun
• caˈpriciously, adverb

Other Words From

• ca·pri·cious·ly adverb
• ca·pri·cious·ness noun
• non·ca·pri·cious adjective
• non·ca·pri·cious·ly adverb
• un·ca·pri·cious adjective
• un·ca·pri·cious·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of capricious¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from French capricieux, from Italian capriccioso capriccioso

Synonym Study

See fickle.

Example Sentences

The parents allege that the disciplinary action was “arbitrary and capricious” and that the school provided no evidence of a policy being violated or of the classmate feeling threatened.

From Los Angeles Times

"Any prudent brand considering any Tesla partnership has to take Musk’s massively amplified, highly politicised, capricious and arbitrary behaviour, which sometimes veers into hate speech, into account," it added.

From BBC

The three eldest boys — Joseph, Robert Jr. and David — bore the brunt of their mother’s “capricious temperament,” Leamer wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

As such, any given poll or event can make public opinion seem capricious when it is not in the aggregate.

From Salon

The circumstances of his execution gave further ammunition to critics who saw the system as capricious and absurd.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arbitrary
• careless
• erratic
• fickle
• flighty
• helter-skelter
• impulsive
• quirky
• temperamental
• unpredictable
• unreasonable
• unstable
• volatile
• wayward
• whimsical