capricious

[kuh-prish-uhs, -pree-shuhs]

adjective

1. subject to, led by, or indicative of a sudden, odd notion or unpredictable change; erratic.

   He's such a capricious boss I never know how he'll react.

   Synonyms: mercurial, flighty, variable
   Antonyms: consistent, constant, steady

2. Obsolete.,  fanciful or witty.

capricious

/ kəˈprɪʃəs /

adjective

1. characterized by or liable to sudden unpredictable changes in attitude or behaviour; impulsive; fickle

Other Word Forms

• capriciously adverb
• capriciousness noun
• noncapricious adjective
• noncapriciously adverb
• uncapricious adjective
• uncapriciously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of capricious¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from French capricieux, from Italian capriccioso capriccioso

Synonym Study

See fickle.

Example Sentences

“These actions are contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious, and the cynical use of federal employees as a pawn in Congressional deliberations should be declared unlawful and enjoined by this Court.”

Read more on Salon

Just last week, a federal judge ruled that the administration setting immigration-related conditions on similar emergency funding was “arbitrary and capricious,” and unconstitutional.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A lot has happened since then, with Kyiv's European allies working assiduously to repair the damage and school Zelensky in the best ways of handling the capricious and volatile occupant of the White House.

Read more on BBC

“Agencies cutting off funds, like NIH and NSF, are violating the Administrative Procedures Act in that the actions are ‘arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion.’

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, media overseas have been bombarded with stories of capricious denials and detentions at U.S. border crossings.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arbitrary 
• careless 
• erratic 
• fickle 
• flighty 
• helter-skelter 
• impulsive 
• quirky 
• temperamental 
• unpredictable 
• unreasonable 
• unstable 
• volatile 
• wayward 
• whimsical