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.

Related Words

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