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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of capricious
There’s no trace of anything strummed or plucked; clusters of tone simply materialize out of thin air, as capricious as weather.
—
Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026
But the ongoing fracturing of American politics, and especially the capricious and authoritarian-leaning tendencies of the current administration, complicates everything.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026
But the ongoing fracturing of American politics, and especially the capricious and authoritarian-leaning tendencies of the current administration, complicates everything.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capricious
Adjective
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Aerion Targaryen Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett), also known as Aerion Brightflame, is a volatile and cruel Targaryen prince infamous for his arrogance and violent behavior.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
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Even excluding volatile food and energy prices, core PCE is expected to increase from April, according to economists polled by FactSet.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
But the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until a person reaches their mid-to-late 20s, making young people more susceptible to impulsive behavior while gambling.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
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The underlying songwriting is impulsive, but many tracks adopt a deliberately sedate mood or sort through dense clusters of cut-up loops, and Alfa’s spatialization gives the album a pallor that can resemble brain fog.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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The rapid rise and fall underscored silver's reputation as one of the market's most unpredictable assets.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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The restaurant intended to add automatic 18 percent tips to every bill, since international tipping culture is often unpredictable.—
Rachel Siegel,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Digging into the Warren Commission’s evidence, in Meagher’s time, was regarded as something more than eccentric.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
20 June 2026
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While peers have pushed the genre toward radio-ready house-pop or dubiously eccentric experiments, Pond remain tethered to the sound that produced their last true breakout.—
Cassidy Sollazzo,
Pitchfork,
19 June 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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Marte, who spent two seasons with the Phillies as an inconsistent but frequently used bullpen arm during their recent playoff runs, will join the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
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On Thursday, prosecutors dropped the charges against Edwards, Amir Fagan, and Chashonn Toney saying this video is indeed inconsistent with facts in the indictment.—
Megan De Mar,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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If these fixes apply after the system has already verified the human and if that identity foundation is shallow, even strong transaction records rest on unstable ground.—
Jeffrey Highman,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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Engineers always knew the cliffs were unstable Last Chance Grade was first built as a wagon trail through the dense redwood forest in 1894.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capricious. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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