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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of capricious
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
Then again, the president is capricious and that could change.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Baseball by its capricious nature requires multiple games between teams to determine a legitimate victor.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit, brought last year by a coalition of medical groups and doctors, sought to block mass policy changes at HHS, arguing the agency's decisions were arbitrary and capricious.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
Then again, the president is capricious and that could change.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Baseball by its capricious nature requires multiple games between teams to determine a legitimate victor.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit, brought last year by a coalition of medical groups and doctors, sought to block mass policy changes at HHS, arguing the agency's decisions were arbitrary and capricious.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capricious
Adjective
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Outperformance in the next decade won’t come from lower costs, but instead from the ability to keep operating when markets turn volatile.—
Victor Nian,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
-
It’s destined to be remembered as one of the most volatile and surprising political contests modern-day California has ever seen.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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That means being cautious and restrained, aiming for stable production or slow, steady growth, instead of impulsive moves.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
7 May 2026
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This isn’t a time for impulsive decision-making, however.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Intercepting Mach 5 hypersonic weapons in space Hypersonic weapons, traveling at speeds of Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) and above with unpredictable maneuvers, pose significant challenges to traditional missile defenses.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
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Prices are subject to rapid, unpredictable changes due to factors like, but not limited to, supply/demand, weather, and geopolitical events.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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In 1895, an eccentric businessman named Henry Gaylord Wilshire began developing a luxury residential community on what was then the western edge of Los Angeles.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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That may be because Kahn, whose assemblage art is, in simple terms, spontaneous and non-conformist with its amorphous shapes and eccentric use of color.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
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.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Jan. 2023
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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.—
Jordan Kisner Jack Davison,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2022
Adjective
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When that early foundation is delayed or inconsistent, the effects don’t stay confined to those first years.—
Tina Dello Russo,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
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Why is the team suddenly playing stellar defense, after inconsistent performances all season?—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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An unstable ice block delayed Mount Everest’s climbing season until late April, yet around 464 climbers and their guides remain determined despite the danger and soaring permit costs.—
Binaj Gurubacharya,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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While mixtures of two or three metals were messy and unstable, the five-metal combination paradoxically self-organized into a single, uniform product, streamlining 31 possible chemical outcomes into a single, precise nanocrystal.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capricious. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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