Advertisement
Advertisement
mercurial
[ mer-kyoor-ee-uhl ]
adjective
- changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic:
a mercurial nature.
Synonyms: indecisive, inconstant
- animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.
Synonyms: spirited
Antonyms: phlegmatic
- pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury.
- (initial capital letter) of or relating to the god Mercury.
- (initial capital letter) of or relating to the planet Mercury.
noun
- Pharmacology. a preparation of mercury used as a drug.
mercurial
/ mɜːˈkjʊərɪəl /
adjective
- of, like, containing, or relating to mercury
- volatile; lively
a mercurial temperament
- sometimes capital of, like, or relating to the god or the planet Mercury
noun
- med any salt of mercury for use as a medicine
Discover More
Derived Forms
- merˈcurialness, noun
- merˈcurially, adverb
Discover More
Other Words From
- mer·curi·al·ly adverb
- mer·curi·al·ness mer·curi·ali·ty noun
- unmer·curi·al adjective
- unmer·curi·al·ly adverb
- unmer·curi·al·ness noun
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of mercurial1
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of mercurial1
Discover More
Example Sentences
Since the recession, a mercurial job market has made it difficult for many vets to find steady employment.
I think that Michael would hate to be falsely remembered as perfect in retrospect—he was mercurial, impulsive, and intense.
They are superstitious, violent, passionate, mercurial, and secretive, with a greater belief in dragons than in any saint.
But Chechnya has become a republic of fear, the fiefdom of one man: its mercurial 36-year-old president, Ramzan Kadyrov.
But I press on, because my mercurial editor is emailing me, “When are you filing that bitcoin story!??”
Quentin Gray's mercurial color deserted him, and he turned to Seton a face grown suddenly pale.
The usual excited happiness was less obvious, he thought, than usual, the mercurial gaiety wholly absent.
The extreme heat was rather more intense than that of the preceding day, the mercurial column standing for a time at 97 degrees.
Of the influence formerly attributed to the planets, traces survive in such epithets as mercurial, jovial, saturnine.
Of the many forms of mercurial barometer, that perhaps known as Fortins is the best.
Advertisement
Discover More
Related Words
Word of the Day
[in-vet-er-it ]
Meaning and examplesStart each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!
By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse