caprice

noun ca·price \ kə-ˈprēs \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of caprice

1 a : a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action

policy changes that seem to be motivated by nothing more than caprice

b : a sudden usually unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes

the caprices of the weather

2 : a disposition to do things impulsively

a preference for democratic endeavor over authoritarian caprice

3 : capriccio 3

See caprice defined for English-language learners

See caprice defined for kids

Examples of caprice in a Sentence

… Montana's "Durum Triangle," where the caprice of microclimates has led farmers to complain not of floods but of drought. —Florence Williams, New Republic, 16 Aug. 1999
But Castro has his army and his secret police and a reputation for ferocious caprice, and so he can make a whole people dance to his dementias. —Jack Beatty, Atlantic, January 1987
I'm allowing about ten days between here and the U.S.A. (that may be too much or too little, depending on the caprice of the Italian mails). —James Wright, letter, 28 May 1979
the caprices of the weather
Employees have complained of being at the mercy of the manager's every whim and caprice.
policy changes that seem to be motivated by nothing more than caprice

Recent Examples of caprice from the Web

The idea was that each piece would be a virtuoso caprice that was about the violin and the violinist.

— mark swed, latimes.com, "Jennifer Koh and the 'Shared Madness' of coming between a violinist and her violin," 30 Apr. 2018
Both of the things that made the last days of January 2017 feel so abnormal — the excesses of government caprice and cruelty, and the unstoppable outpouring of resistance energy from all sectors of society — have become invisible to the naked eye.

— dara lind, Vox, "How Trump’s travel ban became normal," 27 Apr. 2018
Vietnam is also a valuable hedge against Chinese administrative caprice.

— The Economist, "Why Samsung of South Korea is the biggest firm in Vietnam," 12 Apr. 2018
That sentiment as much as any conveys the spirit of this collection of individuals, whose style—a powerful combination of caprice and gravitas—set the pace of the dance for decades to come.

— nina renata aron, The New Republic, "The Spirit of the Left Bank," 21 Mar. 2018
The story of his career since that triumph exemplifies the caprices of literary celebrity and the indignities of old age.

— The Economist, "Charles Sprawson wrote a celebrated book. Then he vanished," 1 Feb. 2018
However, as Roy discovers, his good parents, good choices and mostly good fortune do not shield him from the pain and caprice of the world.

— stephanie powell watts, New York Times, "A Marriage Upended, a Life Destroyed," 6 Feb. 2018
The composers were to explore, in their own voices, the idea of virtuosity as represented by Niccolo Paganini’s famous set of 24 unaccompanied violin caprices.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Glen Ellyn's Jennifer Koh premieres modern takes on Paganini," 29 Jan. 2018
As in America, another large and tumultuous democracy, the Supreme Court plays an essential role not only as a final legal arbiter but also as a counterweight to the caprice of the executive and legislative branches.

— The Economist, "Bench pressJudges on India’s supreme court accuse the chief justice of bias," 18 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'caprice.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of caprice

French, from Italian capriccio caprice, shudder, perhaps from capo head (from Latin caput) + riccio hedgehog, from Latin ericius — more at head, urchin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1667

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

caprice Synonyms

Synonyms

capriciousness, impulsiveness, whimsicality, whimsicalness;

Near Antonyms

levelheadedness, practicality, reasonability, reasonableness;

fastness, firmness, fixedness, immovability, immovableness, immutability, inflexibility, invariability;

changelessness, constancy, stability, steadfastness, steadiness;

eccentricity, flakiness;

arbitrariness, fickleness, inconstancy, irregularity, volatileness, volatility;

changeability, flexibility, mutability, variability, variableness;

Synonym Discussion of caprice

caprice, whim, vagary, crotchet mean an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire. caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness.

- by sheer caprice she quit her job

whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination.

- an odd antique that was bought on a whim

vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire.

- he had been prone to strange vagaries

crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference.

- a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets

CAPRICE Defined for English Language Learners

caprice

noun

Definition of caprice for English Language Learners

: a sudden change; especially : a sudden change in someone's mood or behavior

CAPRICE Defined for Kids

caprice

noun ca·price \ kə-ˈprēs \

Definition of caprice for Students

: a sudden change in feeling, opinion, or action : whim

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caprice

Definition of caprice

Examples of caprice in a Sentence

Recent Examples of caprice from the Web

Origin and Etymology of caprice

caprice Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of caprice

CAPRICE Defined for English Language Learners

caprice

Definition of caprice for English Language Learners

CAPRICE Defined for Kids

caprice

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