1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
capricious weather that was balmy one day and freezing cold the next
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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
The memorandum filed Monday argues the court should not adopt the deferential standard of arbitrary or capricious.
—
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The judge also said the administration’s decision had been arbitrary and capricious, given its failure to consider Vineyard Wind’s interest in having the project continue on its schedule to a March completion.
—Mark Chediak, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
There’s also a First Amendment claim, and an Administrative Procedure Act claim, which is that the government is acting illegally in an arbitrary and capricious way.
—Andrea Katz, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Frankfurt’s January investment Frankfurt were among the league’s most capricious teams in the first half of the season.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The judge also said the administration’s decision had been arbitrary and capricious, given its failure to consider Vineyard Wind’s interest in having the project continue on its schedule to a March completion.
—Mark Chediak, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
There’s also a First Amendment claim, and an Administrative Procedure Act claim, which is that the government is acting illegally in an arbitrary and capricious way.
—Andrea Katz, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Frankfurt’s January investment Frankfurt were among the league’s most capricious teams in the first half of the season.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capricious
Adjective
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Quick recovery after extinction Interestingly, the fossil identification suggests that even in the immediate, volatile aftermath of a global catastrophe, these creatures were not isolated.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
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Flying is the company’s second Nova-C lander named Athena featuring NASA’s PRIME-1 drill, to land a drill and mass spectrometer near the south pole of the moon in order to demonstrate the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and measure the volatile content of subsurface samples.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Just Friends By Haley Pham Blair and Declan were once inseparable best friends whose brief, impulsive romance ended in heartbreak and silence after one shattering moment.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
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After getting two appointments right (Steve Cooper and Nuno Espirito Santo), Marinakis has reverted to type, with impulsive and erratic decision-making having undermined Forest’s campaign from the start.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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With unpredictable weather on the horizon, the barn jacket is a happy medium between light jackets and heavy coats.—
India Roby,
Glamour,
24 Feb. 2026
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If your income is unpredictable or already stretched thin, that commitment could create more stress instead of less.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Layered beads and mixed textures add to the slightly eccentric energy Anna Sui returns to again and again.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
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The lineup for Diplo’s HonkyTonk at Stagecoach 2026 has been released, and the guest list is eccentric.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
19 Feb. 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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But the Texans don’t have much incentive to trade Mills after Stroud’s inconsistent play during the playoffs (passing for 462 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions over two games).—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
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May Improve Attention Some studies have found metabolic and cognitive benefits to walking in the morning, but research is inconsistent on whether this is unique to time of day.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And, as predicted, the blizzard arrived, delivering blankets of unstable powder.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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The storm arrived as predicted and by Tuesday morning had dumped several feet of fresh, unstable snow.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capricious. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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