capriciousness

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

/ kəˈprɪʃ əs nɪs, -ˈpri ʃəs- /

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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.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of capriciousness

capricious + -ness

OTHER WORDS FROM capriciousness

non·ca·pri·cious·ness, nounun·ca·pri·cious·ness, noun

Words nearby capriciousness

capric acid, capriccio, capriccioso, caprice, capricious, capriciousness, Capricorn, Capricornia, Capricornian, Capricornus, caprification

How to use capriciousness in a sentence

The NBA, spinning in a vicious, capricious cycle, would be better if it worked again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s patience is a gift to Milwaukee. Don’t blow it, Bucks.|Jerry Brewer|December 16, 2020|Washington Post
There’s not much evidence that the women who eventually profited from Millar’s capricious bequest were even trying to compete — they just birthed a bunch of kids during that decade.
Toronto’s Depression-Era Baby Race|Fiona Zublin|November 25, 2020|Ozy
Investors may be capricious, but the market’s math is a stubborn thing.
After soaring, then plunging, earnings are heading for a ‘new normal.’ But where is that, exactly?|Shawn Tully|October 13, 2020|Fortune
This year has been one of the most uncertain and capricious years ever for eCommerce.
How to prepare your e-commerce ad strategy for an uncertain Q4|Sponsored Content: Pacvue|August 17, 2020|Search Engine Land

When Will Rodriguez-Kennedy ran to lead the San Diego County Democratic Party, he promised a new and less capricious system of prioritizing the various local races each election cycle.
Politics Report: What Comes Next for Sports Arena|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|July 11, 2020|Voice of San Diego
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
Purges must go too far, because extreme capriciousness is what stops the frenzy.
Whose Heads Will Roll on Nov. 5?|John Batchelor|October 28, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Valeria, with her wonted capriciousness, veered round in defence of the institution that she had been just jeering at.
The Daughters of Danaus|Mona Caird
The Bay tree gives us a curious instance of the capriciousness of English plant names.
The plant-lore and garden-craft of Shakespeare|Henry Nicholson Ellacombe
Their requests are granted or refused with absolute capriciousness.
Chaucer and His Times|Grace E. Hadow
But they are not full of it; it comes only now and then, with tantalizing capriciousness.
The Jonathan Papers|Elisabeth Woodbridge Morris
These gave the horse the reputation of capriciousness and unreliability.
Clever Hans|Oskar Pfungst