adjective
capricious
kuh-PRISH-us/kəˈprɪʃəs/
Prone to sudden, unpredictable changes in mood or behavior.
Capricious weather interrupts the picnic with a sudden shower of hail.
Etymology
French capricieux meant “whimsical,” describing people apt to change their minds suddenly. Its underlying Italian word capriccio meant “whim” and originally “a shivering,” but the deeper origin is uncertain.
In context
he is apt to bite you in the leg when you think think he is half asleep a horse is too capricious for me
More examples
- Her capricious boss reverses yesterday's instructions without explanation.
- The story's king is famous for his capricious decisions.
- Travelers struggle to plan around the ferry's capricious schedule.
Forms
capricious · more capricious · most capricious
Similar words
- fickle
- Emphasizes changing loyalty or preference.
- unpredictable
- Unpredictable is broad; capricious suggests changing according to sudden whims.