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
Nature is capricious, often cruel.
—
Akash Kapur,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Akash Kapur,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capricious
Adjective
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Related Stories Set in 1948 Malaya in the volatile years that followed the end of World War II, the film traces a Malay soldier and a British soldier who are left behind after the British military withdraws.
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While the rally continued into early 2026, trade soon turned volatile.
Adjective
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July 3 could bring shocks or surprises; just beware of being too risky or impulsive.
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Seems impulsive … Carter wants to be a cop?
Adjective
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Analysts expect gas prices to continue falling but remain unpredictable due to geopolitical tensions.
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Your personal life could feel crowded, unpredictable and emotionally overwhelming, Scorpio.
Adjective
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Gardone Riviera itself is worth a wander, with the eccentric Vittoriale degli Italiani, the former estate of the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, a short walk from the hotel.
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For Bielsa and Uruguay, this marks the end of an era in which many believe the Argentine coach lost control of the locker room and his relationship with the media became strained because of his eccentric and explosive personality, but, above all, a lack of wins.
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.
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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.
Adjective
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Avoid abrupt temperature changes, frequent relocation, and inconsistent watering.
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Broadcasters and platforms needed reliable ways to deliver streams to millions of viewers across inconsistent internet connections.
Adjective
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The conservation team will secure unstable paint before cleaning the works with fiber lasers.
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Most of the people with the dragons are either unstable or idiots, or both.
Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capricious. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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