Definition of MERCURIAL

Choose the Right Synonym for mercurial

Adjective

inconstant, fickle, capricious, mercurial, unstable mean lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion). inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change. an inconstant friend fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness. performers discover how fickle fans can be capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability. an utterly capricious critic mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood. made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament 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

Did You Know?

Adjective

The Roman god Mercury ("Mercurius" in Latin) was the messenger and herald of the gods and also the god of merchants and thieves. (His counterpart in Greek mythology is Hermes.) He was noted for his eloquence, swiftness, and cunning, and the Romans named what appeared to them to be the fastest-moving planet in his honor. The Latin adjective derived from his name, mercurialis, meaning "of or relating to Mercury," was borrowed into English in the 14th century as "mercurial." Although the adjective initially meant "born under the planet Mercury," it came to mean also "having qualities of eloquence, ingenuity, or thievishness attributed to the god Mercury or the influence of the planet Mercury," and then "unpredictably changeable."

Examples of mercurial in a Sentence

Adjective

Few moments in English history have been more hungry for the future, its mercurial possibilities and its hope of richness, than the spring of 1603. — Adam Nicolson, God's Secretaries, 2003 Though you could see all three places in one day, each of them makes you want to stay or to keep returning to watch the effects of the changing weather and the mercurial Sicilian light. — Francine Prose, Atlantic, December 2002 Some scientists suggest that because manic-depressive patients are ever riding the bio-chemical express between emotional extremes, their brains end up more complexly wired and remain more persistently plastic than do the brains of less mercurial sorts. — Natalie Angier, New York Times, 12 Oct. 1993 Still grinning, still miming, he samba-ed across the floor … and started in on the dishes with a vigor that would have prostrated his mercurial cousin. — T. Coraghessan Boyle, Harper's, October 1987 the boss's mood is so mercurial that we never know how he's going to react to anything

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

West Oakland’s uniquely mercurial but consistently charming restaurant scene expands today with the official opening of Soba Ichi, a soba noodle spot from the same folks behind Berkeley’s popular Ippuku. — Justin Phillips, SFChronicle.com, "Soba noodle gurus open new West Oakland destination Soba Ichi," 19 June 2018 His use of color was as well known among painters as his mercurial and erratic personality, and scholars, including Wolanin, increasingly see his late work as a major augury of abstraction expressionism. — Stephan Salisbury, Philly.com, "Woodmere acquires vast trove of Arthur Carles' art," 5 June 2018 For one thing, the manager is beginning to earn a reputation for being mercurial and untrustworthy. — SI.com, "Why Everton Will Be Marco Silva's Last Chance at Premier League Success After Ugly Watford Split," 17 May 2018 Through it all, the president remained mercurial and unreadable even to those ostensibly negotiating with him. — Washington Post, "‘Negotiating with Jell-O’: How Trump’s shifting positions fueled the rush to a shutdown," 20 Jan. 2018 That mercurial side of Trump is less likely to be experienced Monday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom Trump has been anticipating a sit-down for weeks. — Zeke Miller, Washington Post, "Analysis: Trump’s questionable claims of success," 13 July 2018 Pinballing day in and day out with the mercurial Trump is not the best way to fulfill that latter duty. — David Zurawik, baltimoresun.com, "Trump's TV messaging machine not looking quite so mighty these days," 12 July 2018 The 'best player on the other team' comment came with a laugh as a nod Stephenson's mercurial nature, highlighted by his clashes with LeBron James. — Andrew Hussey, Indianapolis Star, "Lance Stephenson responds to Pacers president Kevin Pritchard comment," 6 July 2018 With many a surprise already in this World Cup, the mercurial forward is enjoying the possibility of his Red Devils taking home their first major international prize. — SI.com, "'It's Good for Us': Eden Hazard Eyes World Cup Glory Following Portugal, Spain & Argentina Exits," 2 July 2018

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