Synonyms

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

Derived 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

The capriciousness of the fire quickly revealed itself.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2025

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

From Seattle Times • Oct. 17, 2022

Yet there are mechanisms in place, figuratively and literally, to protect the human species from the capriciousness of the handful of people who get to control nuclear weapons.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2022

Strangely enough, I very nearly caught the essence of teenage capriciousness as I played the role.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

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