Synonyms of caprice

caprice

noun

kə-ˈprēs 

1

as in whim

a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action

an out-of-character caprice led him to take the day off from work and go to the beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

• whim
• vagary
• whimsey
• whimsy
• notion
• bee
• vagrancy
• humor
• megrim
• maggot
• kink
• capriciousness
• crank
• fancy
• freak
• fantasy
• phantasy
• thought
• bee in one's bonnet
• image
• whimsicality
• impression
• fancifulness
• impetuosity
• conception
• freakishness
• conceit
• picture
• concept
• inspiration
• mind's eye
• brainstorm

2

as in impulsiveness

an inclination to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions

his knack for picking racetrack winners appears to owe as much to caprice as it does to a canny assessment of horseflesh

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impulsiveness
• capriciousness
• whimsicality
• freakishness
• willfulness
• flexibility
• eccentricity
• variableness
• unpredictability
• whimsicalness
• variability
• arbitrariness
• irregularity
• fickleness
• volatility
• moodiness
• mutability
• changeability
• flakiness
• inconstancy
• mercurialness
• volatileness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonableness
• practicality
• inflexibility
• reasonability
• firmness
• invariability
• fixedness
• immutability
• levelheadedness
• stability
• fastness
• constancy
• steadiness
• immovability
• steadfastness
• changelessness
• immovableness

Synonym Chooser

How is the word caprice distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of caprice are crotchet, vagary, and whim. While all these words mean "an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire," caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness.

by sheer caprice she quit her job

When could crotchet be used to replace caprice?

In some situations, the words crotchet and caprice are roughly equivalent. However, crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference.

a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets

Where would vagary be a reasonable alternative to caprice?

The words vagary and caprice can be used in similar contexts, but vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire.

he had been prone to strange vagaries

When can whim be used instead of caprice?

The synonyms whim and caprice are sometimes interchangeable, but whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination.

an odd antique that was bought on a whim

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of caprice

An e-mail publication was invulnerable to the caprices of social-media platforms and their algorithms. —Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025

But Cass is not the man to beat his head in bitterness over female caprice. —Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025

But all of this is merely the set-up for the major mishap that happens — a kind of cosmic caprice. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025

The whims and caprices of a volatile administration have given most of them a deep sense of insecurity. —Marquis William Childs, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025