1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a fickle friendship that was on and off over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in traitorous
not true in one's allegiance to someone or something
when the family's fortune disappeared, so did their fickle friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fickle
The closing of Paragon, a club that has sold-out nights, is a reminder that the nightlife business is fickle and partly dependent on the commercial real estate market, though, according to the Office of Nightlife’s annual report, more than 6,000 nightlife businesses have opened since the pandemic.
—
Brian Josephs, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
No corner of the economy is likely to remain untouched, and the already fickle art market is no exception.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Although momentum in baseball should be as fickle as tomorrow’s starting pitcher, the New York Mets have managed to maintain it with their fan base through a difficult playoff loss, through the winter and into a new regular season, as seen in a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
The financial markets will quickly become some unhappy combination of fickle and volatile.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fickle
Brian Josephs, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
No corner of the economy is likely to remain untouched, and the already fickle art market is no exception.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Although momentum in baseball should be as fickle as tomorrow’s starting pitcher, the New York Mets have managed to maintain it with their fan base through a difficult playoff loss, through the winter and into a new regular season, as seen in a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
The financial markets will quickly become some unhappy combination of fickle and volatile.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fickle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fickle
Adjective
-
Over the past four years, SOFI's annual returns have been considerably more volatile than the S&P 500, with returns of 27% in 2021, -71% in 2022, 116% in 2023, and 55% in 2024.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Income tax is more volatile and susceptible to the ups and downs within the economy, Greller said.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Smith made out their former collaborators to be ungrateful and traitorous, and the kids weren't given the space to question her command.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Foreign military interventions can change victims from being viewed as a nuisance into being seen as powerful and traitorous enemies, potentially capable of exacting revenge, seizing power, or breaking away from the state.—
Benjamin A. Valentino,
Foreign Affairs,
17 Oct. 2011
Adjective
-
The source said Republicans view Powell as an important pillar of stability in the U.S. economy amid Trump’s unpredictable tariff war against foreign trading partners, including allies such as Canada, Japan, South Korean and Taiwan.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Spring temps can be unpredictable, so don’t forget to add on a pashmina-style shawl and some statement earrings.—
Jené Luciani Sena,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Poor-quality or biased data can lead to inaccurate threat detection, making security systems unreliable.—
Melkon Hovhannisyan,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
The new prosecution also agreed that the Snapchat evidence was unreliable, but went a step further than the judge, dismissing the case entirely.—
Tresa Baldas,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The match ended when Heyman turned on both Punk and Reigns with a pair of treacherous low blows on each.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
-
In February, Star residents and City Council members clashed over competing needs for a new school and improvements to a treacherous road, with the school proposal winning out.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Last year’s 17-9 start proved to be a false spring, one that lulled fans into thinking Craig Counsell replacing David Ross was the real difference between an 83-win Cubs team and the postseason.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Trump’s false assertions about the outcome of the 2020 election ultimately led a crowd of supporters to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, temporarily disrupting the certification of Biden’s win.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Much like a patient who fails to finish a course of antibiotics, inconstant policies may incur all the costs and none of the benefits.—
David Carlin,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Much like a patient who fails to finish a course of antibiotics, inconstant policies may incur all the costs and none of the benefits.—
David Carlin,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fickle. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share