1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a fickle friendship that was on and off over the years
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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Here’s what their analysis found: Only 8.4% of investors executed trades on any of those days, reacting to the volatile market by buying or selling stocks.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2025
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But her life is unexpectedly upended by the arrival of a new student in her class: her charming but volatile younger brother Merritt.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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
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All such theories, however, have appeared to be unreliable and speculative since any first strikes would have to contend with the risk of an enemy launch on warning as well as sufficient systems surviving for a devastating riposte.—
Lawrence D. Freedman,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Apr. 2025
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Some customers worry Crusoe’s cloud system is unreliable.—
Christopher Helman,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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Reemerging as a cult figure with cameo roles in films and TV shows, a Broadway revival of his Pee-wee stage show, and a final Pee-wee film, Reubens refuses to have his legacy be defined by media scandals based on false rumors.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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 2 May. 2025.
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