mercurial
Americanadjective
-
changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic.
a mercurial nature.
- Synonyms:
- indecisive, inconstant
-
animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.
- Synonyms:
- spirited
- Antonyms:
- phlegmatic
-
pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury.
-
(initial capital letter) of or relating to the god Mercury.
-
(initial capital letter) of or relating to the planet Mercury.
noun
adjective
-
of, like, containing, or relating to mercury
-
volatile; lively
a mercurial temperament
-
(sometimes capital) of, like, or relating to the god or the planet Mercury
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mercurial
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin mercuriālis “of or pertaining to the god or planet Mercury”; see origin at mercury, -al 1
Explanation
Mercurial describes someone whose mood or behavior is changeable and unpredictable, or someone who is clever, lively, and quick. With a mercurial teacher, you never know where you stand. Mercury was the ancient Roman god of commerce and messenger of the gods, and the planet Mercury was named after the Roman god. In Middle English, this adjective meant "relating to the planet or god Mercury" and derives from Latin mercuriālis, from Mercurius "Mercury." A mercurial personality has the unpredictability associated with the god Mercury or, in astrology, is supposedly influenced by the planet.
Vocabulary lists containing mercurial
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Did You Planet? Words With Surprisingly Spacey Origins
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Gorka can be remarkably candid and mercurial for a senior official with such a sensitive remit, according to hours of his public remarks reviewed by ProPublica.
From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026
Such uncertainty is the main enticement of this small, mercurial book.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
The mercurial striker last played for his country in October 2023.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
Master of the trivela, lover of a rabona - mercurial and erratic, but show-stoppingly skilful.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
His most important question was whether the mercurial and messianic Teller could manage anybody.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
