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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Gonzalo Fuentes | Reuters Global stock markets have been volatile as investors continue to assess geopolitical risks in the Middle East, fundamentals and valuations of companies in the artificial intelligence (AI) market and key economic data.
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The crisis started after officials responded to GKN’s Garden Grove facility on May 21 and soon realized a volatile chemical tank was at risk of exploding or causing a major spill.
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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This unpredictable chaos, fueled by technological glitches and administrative issues, is worsening as peak summer travel begins.
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However, construction zones are inherently unpredictable.
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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According to Chernoff, this can lead to excess frost, stale odors, and inconsistent freezing conditions, all of which negatively affect ice quality.
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Golfers have long sought solutions for inconsistent putting, with many traditional tips proving ineffective.
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 2 Jul. 2026.
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