capricious
Americanadjective
Related Words
See fickle.
Other Word Forms
- capriciously adverb
- capriciousness noun
- noncapricious adjective
- noncapriciously adverb
- uncapricious adjective
- uncapriciously adverb
Etymology
Origin of capricious
First recorded in 1585–95; from French capricieux, from Italian capriccioso capriccioso
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There are many cases, in the arbitrary, capricious death penalty system, where clemency is appropriate.
From Slate • Mar. 6, 2026
The venture's legal brief described the suspension order as "arbitrary and capricious."
From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026
These actions, according to the lawsuit, were “ arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, not in accordance with law, and therefore invalid under the Administrative Procedure Act.”
From Salon • Dec. 11, 2025
Depending on the era and zeitgeist, the heavenly strangers gazing down upon us in judgment could be anyone from Zeus to “Dr. Who’s” Zygons, and their interest in us capricious or cruel or kind.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2025
A universe created from Chaos was in perfect keeping with the Greek belief in an unpredictable Nature run by capricious gods.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
