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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective capricious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of capricious are fickle, inconstant, mercurial, and unstable. While all these words mean "lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion)," capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability.

an utterly capricious critic

When can fickle be used instead of capricious?

In some situations, the words fickle and capricious are roughly equivalent. However, fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness.

performers discover how fickle fans can be

Where would inconstant be a reasonable alternative to capricious?

Although the words inconstant and capricious have much in common, inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change.

an inconstant friend

When could mercurial be used to replace capricious?

The meanings of mercurial and capricious largely overlap; however, mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood.

made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament

When might unstable be a better fit than capricious?

While the synonyms unstable and capricious are close in meaning, unstable implies an incapacity for remaining in a fixed position or steady course and applies especially to a lack of emotional balance.

too unstable to hold a job

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of capricious The medical groups argue that Kennedy's decision—announced in a video on social media on May 27—violates the Administrative Procedure Act for being arbitrary and capricious. ArsTechnica, 8 July 2025 That has been the driving principle of America's successful nuclear policy for decades, and with one capricious order, President Trump has inadvertently made the nightmare of a proliferation cascade much more likely. David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 Last-second outcomes tend to be perceived as capricious. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 12 June 2025 In response, protests have broken out as activists see the efforts as capricious and mean-spirited. Philip Elliott, Time, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for capricious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capricious
Adjective
  • Create Short-term and Long-term Business Plans When getting your business off the ground, the beginning is often the most volatile time.
    Rhett Buttle, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • The law provides a federal framework for stablecoins, a form of cryptocurrency that's considered less volatile than other cryptocurrencies, as each token is backed by the US dollar or other supposedly low-risk assets.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • Merz, 69, is impulsive, prickly under pressure and occasionally leans into populist bluster.
    Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 26 June 2025
  • Unlike reckless risk-taking, which is impulsive and uninformed, calculated risk should be strategic and intentional.
    Vikram Joshi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike cheaper rebounders that can feel stiff or unpredictable, this one stays sturdy and responsive.
    Jordan Galloway, SELF, 15 July 2025
  • Not pleased by the unpredictable nature of MP stock?
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • The panelists discussed episode 4's introduction of a slew of new killers played by Stonestreet, Dastmalchian, Ritter, Neil Patrick Harris, and Uma Thurman, all employed in a secret society by an eccentric billionaire obsessed with serial killers (Peter Dinklage).
    EW.com, EW.com, 26 July 2025
  • The clever branding with eccentric names of the balls is already resonating with customers looking for unique gifts that blend humor with functionality.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • The company's customer service is known for being inconsistent.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 25 July 2025
  • While Salesforce tries to make this as painless as possible, its UI/UX can be inconsistent and create bottlenecks during onboarding.
    Andrii Kovalchuk, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • And the economy, right now, feels unstable to many, as grocery prices rise and the job market goes on a diet.
    Sophie Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
  • According to a report released in April, 72% of clients of reentry welcome centers across the state between June 2023 and May 2024 reported having unstable housing situations.
    Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capricious. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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