Capricious: meaning, example and synonyms

Capriciousadj. Given to sudden, unaccountable changes of mood or behavior; unpredictable.

Example

Sailors dreaded the strait's capricious winds, which could shift from a gentle breeze to a violent squall within minutes.

Part of speech: adjective
Synonyms: fickle, erratic, volatile, unpredictable
Antonyms: steady, constant, consistent, reliable
Memory tip: Picture a capering goat (Latin capra): it leaps any which way.

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Check yourself: Capricious in context

Pick the word that best completes each text.

Question 1

The ruler's ______ decrees, issued one day and reversed the next, left merchants unable to plan their trade for more than a week at a time.

Question 2

Farmers in the region plant several crops at once, a hedge against the ______ rainfall that may flood the fields one year and parch them the next.

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