1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of capricious
Nature is capricious, often cruel.
—
Akash Kapur,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
There’s no trace of anything strummed or plucked; clusters of tone simply materialize out of thin air, as capricious as weather.
—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
But the ongoing fracturing of American politics, and especially the capricious and authoritarian-leaning tendencies of the current administration, complicates everything.
—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
The attorney general’s interpretation, the court said, was not unreasonable or capricious, merely different from the administrative law judge’s.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Akash Kapur,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
There’s no trace of anything strummed or plucked; clusters of tone simply materialize out of thin air, as capricious as weather.
—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
But the ongoing fracturing of American politics, and especially the capricious and authoritarian-leaning tendencies of the current administration, complicates everything.
—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
The attorney general’s interpretation, the court said, was not unreasonable or capricious, merely different from the administrative law judge’s.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capricious
Adjective
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Aerion Targaryen Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett), also known as Aerion Brightflame, is a volatile and cruel Targaryen prince infamous for his arrogance and violent behavior.
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Even excluding volatile food and energy prices, core PCE is expected to increase from April, according to economists polled by FactSet.
Adjective
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Seems impulsive … Carter wants to be a cop?
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So buying Chanel’s $72 skin tint was not an impulsive decision.
Adjective
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This unpredictable chaos, fueled by technological glitches and administrative issues, is worsening as peak summer travel begins.
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However, construction zones are inherently unpredictable.
Adjective
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For Bielsa and Uruguay, this marks the end of an era in which many believe the Argentine coach lost control of the locker room and his relationship with the media became strained because of his eccentric and explosive personality, but, above all, a lack of wins.
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Midnight in The Garden Of Good And Evil John Berendt's 1994 book follows a real-life murder trial in Savannah, Georgia, but it's filled with the eccentric characters that thrive in Savannah's unique social scene.
Adjective
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Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.
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Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.
Adjective
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According to Chernoff, this can lead to excess frost, stale odors, and inconsistent freezing conditions, all of which negatively affect ice quality.
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Golfers have long sought solutions for inconsistent putting, with many traditional tips proving ineffective.
Adjective
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Angela Cerreta, deputy head restorer for paintings and wooden materials, told the Art Newspaper that restorers will first attend to unstable paint before cleaning the frescoes with fiber lasers.
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These dependencies present supply chain challenges as some of the import sources are located in adversarial or geopolitically unstable nations.
Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capricious. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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