1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
capricious weather that was balmy one day and freezing cold the next
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impulsive
prone to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions
a capricious woman who changed her mind dozens of times about what color to paint the bathroom
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of capricious
In short, fate’s distribution of long straws is wildly capricious.
—
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
Desperate to impress Ruby, Ava scrambles to get Deborah jokes for a desk bit, only for a capricious and vindictive Deborah to cancel the bit entirely and use the time to probe Ruby about embarrassing Ava stories on national television.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 9 May 2025
Because that would be a fairy-tale ending, and this is Gilead, brutal and capricious.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2025
While some countries offer streamlined security and passport control for parents with young children, American parents say the U.S. system remains cumbersome, capricious and highly stressful.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for capricious
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
Desperate to impress Ruby, Ava scrambles to get Deborah jokes for a desk bit, only for a capricious and vindictive Deborah to cancel the bit entirely and use the time to probe Ruby about embarrassing Ava stories on national television.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 9 May 2025
Because that would be a fairy-tale ending, and this is Gilead, brutal and capricious.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2025
While some countries offer streamlined security and passport control for parents with young children, American parents say the U.S. system remains cumbersome, capricious and highly stressful.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capricious
Adjective
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The Behavioral Finance Connection When the market’s volatile, fear drives behavior.—
Meredith Moore,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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The fire had to feel alive, volatile, and credible—a force the actors had to confront in real time.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Although bad things do happen to him, they are often caused by his own careless and impulsive nature.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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Move slowly and be careful about impulsive ideas and actions.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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As federal environmental policy undergoes rapid and often unpredictable shifts through reversals, reinterpretations and sometimes outright dismantling, businesses are left navigating a compliance landscape that feels more like quicksand than solid ground.—
John F. McQuillan,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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John Daly and Tiger Woods share a legendary and unpredictable bond.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Plus this mischievous creature had a lot of eccentric friends.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
24 May 2025
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There are also new characters for guests to greet and learn their lore — an eccentric monster hunter and a talented musician who regales guests with songs and tales.—
Samantha Neely,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.—
Jordan Kisner Jack Davison,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2022
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Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Frustrated by long 311 hold times or inconsistent trash pickup?—
Melanie La Rocca,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
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This is at odds with the concept of getting the most out of every customer deal by wielding inconsistent discounts and surcharges when certain situations arise.—
Chris Mele,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Sitting places the glutes in a lengthened, inactive state that pushes the pelvis forward and puts the lower back at a painfully compressed, mechanical disadvantage, which in turn creates a posture that feels tight, stiff and unstable.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
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The mountain side of the glacier had been unstable since last week, when millions of pounds of rock debris fell onto the glacier surface, Davies said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capricious. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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