mercurial
Americanadjective
-
changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic.
a mercurial nature.
- Synonyms:
- indecisive, inconstant
-
animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.
- Synonyms:
- spirited
- Antonyms:
- phlegmatic
-
pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury.
-
(initial capital letter) of or relating to the god Mercury.
-
(initial capital letter) of or relating to the planet Mercury.
noun
adjective
-
of, like, containing, or relating to mercury
-
volatile; lively
a mercurial temperament
-
(sometimes capital) of, like, or relating to the god or the planet Mercury
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, 2012Other Word Forms
- mercuriality noun
- mercurially adverb
- mercurialness noun
- unmercurial adjective
- unmercurially adverb
- unmercurialness noun
Etymology
Origin of mercurial
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin mercuriālis “of or pertaining to the god or planet Mercury”; mercury, -al 1
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.
The mercurial Australian has not played on the ATP Tour since March and barely at all in three years after a series of career-threatening knee and wrist surgeries.
From Barron's
Lohengrin comes, as well, from a more divine realm to save Elsa from persecution amid conflict and mercurial alliances — between paganism and monotheism, between the Holy Roman Empire and opposing forces.
From New York Times
One surreal night in 2010, a team of forensic specialists under orders from Venezuela’s mercurial president, Hugo Chávez, lifted a coffin lid on live television.
From Washington Post
After all, workers are scarce, consumers are mercurial, and vaccines remain polarizing.
From Washington Post
The Lakers could jumpstart a championship run if they can figure out how to mix mercurial Russell Westbrook with the rest of their lineup.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
