CAPRICIOUS Synonyms: 126 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'capricious' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of capricious are fickle , inconstant , mercurial , and unstable . While all these words mean "lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion)," capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability. // an utterly capricious critic

Q: When can 'fickle' be used instead of 'capricious'?

In some situations, the words fickle and capricious are roughly equivalent. However, fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness. // performers discover how fickle fans can be

Q: Where would 'inconstant' be a reasonable alternative to 'capricious'?

Although the words inconstant and capricious have much in common, inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change. // an inconstant friend

Q: When could 'mercurial' be used to replace 'capricious'?

The meanings of mercurial and capricious largely overlap; however, mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood. // made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament

Q: When might 'unstable' be a better fit than 'capricious'?

While the synonyms unstable and capricious are close in meaning, unstable implies an incapacity for remaining in a fixed position or steady course and applies especially to a lack of emotional balance. // too unstable to hold a job

capricious

adjective

kə-ˈpri-shəs

Definition of capricious next

as in volatile

likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly capricious weather that was balmy one day and freezing cold the next

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in impulsive

prone to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions a capricious woman who changed her mind dozens of times about what color to paint the bathroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective capricious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of capricious are fickle, inconstant, mercurial, and unstable. While all these words mean "lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion)," capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability.

an utterly capricious critic

When can fickle be used instead of capricious?

In some situations, the words fickle and capricious are roughly equivalent. However, fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness.

performers discover how fickle fans can be

Where would inconstant be a reasonable alternative to capricious?

Although the words inconstant and capricious have much in common, inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change.

an inconstant friend

When could mercurial be used to replace capricious?

The meanings of mercurial and capricious largely overlap; however, mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood.

made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament

When might unstable be a better fit than capricious?

While the synonyms unstable and capricious are close in meaning, unstable implies an incapacity for remaining in a fixed position or steady course and applies especially to a lack of emotional balance.

too unstable to hold a job

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of capricious By contrast, capricious, unpredictable, and volatile leaders create anxiety, a walking-on-eggshells atmosphere where people are afraid to act or speak. —

Leon E. Moores, Md, Dsc, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024 But both quakes serve as reminders of how capricious Mother Nature can be at times and our need to do our best in advance to be ready. —

Tor Constantino, Mba, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton had the insight into human nature to insist that governance by the rule of law was the only way to check oligarchs and the capricious violence of an indulged king. —

Sabrina Haake, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2024 The 5-6 Indianapolis Colts are among the most capricious and volatile. —

Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for capricious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for capricious

Adjective

But, looking at a slightly longer period, the increase in MMM stock over the last four-year period has been far from consistent, with annual returns being more volatile than the S&P 500.

— Trefis Team, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Trump has pledged to hand management of his assets to his children, but ethics experts have criticized his crypto ventures as raising conflict of interest issues and stoking speculation in a volatile asset class.

— Tom Westbrook, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025