MERCURIAL Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of mercurial are capricious , fickle , inconstant , and unstable . While all these words mean "lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion)," mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood. // made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament

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

The words capricious and mercurial can be used in similar contexts, but capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability. // an utterly capricious critic

Q: When is 'fickle' a more appropriate choice than 'mercurial'?

While in some cases nearly identical to mercurial , fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness. // performers discover how fickle fans can be

Q: When is it sensible to use 'inconstant' instead of 'mercurial'?

The synonyms inconstant and mercurial are sometimes interchangeable, but inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change. // an inconstant friend

Q: When would 'unstable' be a good substitute for 'mercurial'?

Although the words unstable and mercurial have much in common, 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

mercurial

adjective

(ˌ)mər-ˈkyu̇r-ē-əl

Definition of mercurial next

as in volatile

likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly the boss's mood is so mercurial that we never know how he's going to react to anything

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective mercurial differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mercurial are capricious, fickle, inconstant, and unstable. While all these words mean "lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion)," mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood.

made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament

When could capricious be used to replace mercurial?

The words capricious and mercurial can be used in similar contexts, but capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability.

an utterly capricious critic

When is fickle a more appropriate choice than mercurial?

While in some cases nearly identical to mercurial, fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness.

performers discover how fickle fans can be

When is it sensible to use inconstant instead of mercurial?

The synonyms inconstant and mercurial are sometimes interchangeable, but inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change.

an inconstant friend

When would unstable be a good substitute for mercurial?

Although the words unstable and mercurial have much in common, 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 mercurial But the reality is more complex, as accusations of censorship can be tricky, from a legal standpoint, and rulings are often at the discretion of a mercurial cultural climate. —

Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 23 Dec. 2024 Despite the industry’s mercurial nature, 2024 proved to be an exceptional year for travel and its far-reaching tentacles. —

Roger Sands, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024 Sopranos did it in a very significant, mercurial way. —

Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2024 Since Mercury began its retrograde journey in Sagittarius on Nov. 25, things have been in flux, particularly mercurial themes such as communication, logistics and dynamics within your immediate environment. —

Valerie Mesa, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mercurial