Vocabulary in context
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Capricious
Unpredictable; given to sudden, unaccountable changes in mood or behavior.
adjective💡
Imagine This
California’s fruit and vegetable prices are unpredictable each season due to the unpredictable weather.
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Sounds Like
KAP-ri-shuhs
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Looks Like
Ca prices → California prices
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Remember This
California, the Golden State, is known for its abundant produce.
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Other Forms
Capriciouslyadverb
Capricenoun
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Note
Capricious describes a tendency to change opinions or moods unpredictably, especially in weather or decisions. It is not used for deliberate, steady actions. Related forms include caprice (noun) and capriciously (adverb).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The capricious weather forced us to cancel our outdoor plans twice in one week.
- Her capricious moods made it hard for her friends to predict how she would react.
Synonyms
ficklemercurialvolatilewhimsicalerratic
Antonyms
predictablesteadyconsistent
Etymology
From French capricieux, from Italian capriccio meaning 'whim' or 'caprice', ultimately from Latin caper/capra meaning 'goat' (alluding to a wandering, whimsical nature).
Mnemonic
Caprice means whim; capricious means full of caprice. Remember: something capricious is full of sudden, whimsical changes.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Mercurial
adjectiveDescribing a person whose mood or opinions shift quickly and unpredictably.
Fickle
adjectiveOften changing; unstable or inconsistent in behavior, opinions, or loyalties.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
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