capricious

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

/ kəˈprɪʃ əs, -ˈpri ʃəs /

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adjective

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.

Obsolete. fanciful or witty.

Nearby words

capri-, capric acid, capriccio, capriccioso, caprice, capricious, capricorn, capricornia, capricornian, capricornus, caprification

Origin of capricious

1585–95; < Italian capriccioso capriccioso

SYNONYMS FOR capricious

1 variable, flighty, mercurial. See fickle.

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ANTONYMS FOR capricious

1 steady, constant, consistent.

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Related forms

ca·pri·cious·ly, adverbca·pri·cious·ness, nounnon·ca·pri·cious, adjectivenon·ca·pri·cious·ly, adverb

non·ca·pri·cious·ness, nounun·ca·pri·cious, adjectiveun·ca·pri·cious·ly, adverbun·ca·pri·cious·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for capriciousness

More than anything, they reflect our uneasiness with the modern world, its complexity, and often its capriciousness.
Enough Already: Syria Wasn’t a False-Flag Operation|Jamelle Bouie|September 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
These gave the horse the reputation of capriciousness and unreliability.
Clever Hans|Oskar Pfungst
When we look at the reputation of this Miller, we must needs be deeply impressed with the capriciousness of the character of Fame.
Joe Miller's Jests, With Copious Additions|Various
He persisted in imposing on her his ideas, his artistic passions, even his fantasy, and his capriciousness.
The Red Lily, Complete|Anatole France

The palo borracho, on the other hand, is extremely useful, though not without a touch of capriciousness.
South America To-day|Georges Clemenceau
The capriciousness of the resolution startled me; but I approved whole-heartedly.
Jaffery|William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for capriciousness

capricious

/ (kəˈprɪʃəs) /

adjective

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

Derived Forms

capriciously, adverbcapriciousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012