capricious
adjective
-ˈprē-
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Caprice and Capricious
The adjective capricious and its close relation, the noun caprice (a synonym of whim), both come via French from the Italian word capriccio, which has disputed origins. Capriccio originally referred not to a sudden desire but to a sudden shiver of horror and likely comes from the Italian capo, meaning “head,” and riccio, the word for “hedgehog.” The implication was that someone who shuddered in fear or horror was said to have a “hedgehog head,” meaning that the person’s hair stood on end like the spines of a hedgehog. The link between a whim and a shiver of horror is notably tenuous, though, and a possible link to Italian capra, meaning “goat,” has also been suggested, given the whimsy goats seem to employ in their gamboling. (Here is a full treatment of the disputed etymology.) Whatever its origins, capriccio came to mean “whim, fancy,” which directly relates to its uses today. Something done in a capricious manner is done on a whim, as in “a capricious decision to join the circus.”
Examples of capricious in a Sentence
Tom Morganthau, Newsweek, 29 Mar. 1999
She is capricious, however, and is said to take bribes and wantonly peddle her influence from time to time.
—Hunter S. Thompson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994
Lady Luck is a capricious mother who, as in a recurrent nightmare, always offers, never comes through, and never stops smiling.
—Hugh Drummond, Boston Magazine, November 1989
I don't believe in random occurrences or blind chance, though I know the patterns of this world are capricious and terribly complex.
—Leslie Marmon Silko, letter, 21 Aug. 1979
employees who are at the mercy of a capricious manager
The court ruled that the punishment was arbitrary and capricious.
Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Driving the news: The states charge the administration acted in an arbitrary and capricious way by not explaining the basis for the cap.
—Tina Reed, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025
The states are alleging that this fails to make the policy any less arbitrary or capricious.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 10 Feb. 2025
The Cubs argued Vincent was acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner outside the scope of his legal authority.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for capricious
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Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capricious. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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capricious
adjective
-ˈprē-shəs
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capricious
adjective
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