capricious
kuh-PRISH-uss
/kəˈprɪʃ.əs/
Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior; fickle and unpredictable.
Emphasizes erratic unpredictability driven by whim rather than reason.
The story behind the word. From Italian capriccio ('a sudden start or shivering'), formed from capo ('head') and riccio ('hedgehog')—literally describing hair standing on end in shock. Later popular etymology tied it to capra ('goat'), picturing the erratic, unpredictable leaps of a wild goat.
Word relationships
- fickle: Fickle primarily describes changing loyalties or affections; capricious covers any unpredictable behavior or shift.
- volatile: Volatile stresses potential for explosive change; capricious stresses whimsical or senseless change.
- constant: Constant describes remaining steadfast and unwavering over time.
- predictable: Predictable means behaving consistently according to expected rules.
Commonly confused with
- spurious: Spurious means fake or false; capricious means fickle or unpredictable.
Word family
- caprice (noun): A sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.
- capriciously (adverb): In a whimsical or unpredictable manner.
- capriciousness (noun): The quality of being subject to sudden unpredictable changes.
Collocations
- capricious climate
- capricious ruler
- capricious nature
- capricious whims
Idioms & expressions
- blow hot and cold
- at the mercy of the winds
Example sentences
- "Nature was to me a capricious mistress." Philosophical contemplation of nature
- "Investors hesitated to commit funds while regulatory policies remained capricious and unsettled." Financial market summary
Memory hook
CAPRICORN the goat makes CAPRICIOUS leaps from rock to rock. Leaping around unpredictably like a goat.
When not to use
Do not use to describe planned, logical adaptations or consistent temperaments.
Fun facts
- In classical music, a 'capriccio' is a piece written with lively, free, and unexpected structural shifts.
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