capriciousness

American

[kuh-prish-uhs-nis, -pree-shuhs-] / kəˈprɪʃ əs nɪs, -ˈpri ʃəs- /

noun

the quality of being led by or subject to sudden, odd notions or changes; arbitrary or erratic character.

Some countries have gone to great lengths to build up a war chest of reserves to insure against the capriciousness of foreign investors.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of capriciousness

First recorded in 1600–10; capricious ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

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.

They include the rule of law and a lack of regulatory capriciousness in the U.S.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

Winslet somehow makes whole a character whose hallmark is her capriciousness, as, under successive influences or inspirations, she adopts one persona after another.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2024

But “Peter Pan Goes Wrong,” a madcap comedy that had no presence on the Tony Awards, was up even more — 22 percent — serving as a reminder of the capriciousness of grosses.

From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2023

Xi has his own experience with the capriciousness of party justice.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 17, 2022

At church Father Mike appeared and disappeared with the capriciousness of a divinity.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023