Capricious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Capricious
Capricious (adjective)
- governed or characterized by sudden irrational and unpredictable impulses or whims, impulsive; broadly, unpredictable, erratic
- not supported by the weight of evidence or established rules of law
Capricious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
"capricious weather that was balmy one day and freezing cold the next"
-
prone to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions
"a capricious woman who changed her mind dozens of times about what color to paint the bathroom"
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Capricious
The most common words with a similar meaning to Capricious:
Antonyms & Opposite Words for Capricious
Words with the opposite meaning of Capricious:
Near Antonyms of Capricious
Word Forms of Capricious
Derived words: capriciously (adverb), capriciousness (noun)
Origin & Etymology of Capricious
borrowed from Middle French capricieux, borrowed from Italian capriccioso, from capriccio caprice + -oso -ous
First known use: 1588
Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Capricious
- CEFR level: C2 English Vocabulary — Page 12
- Topics: Intellect & Logic
Frequently Asked Questions about Capricious
What does "Capricious" mean?
"Capricious" means governed or characterized by sudden irrational and unpredictable impulses or whims, impulsive; broadly, unpredictable, erratic. As an adjective, it is defined as: governed or characterized by sudden irrational and unpredictable impulses or whims, impulsive; broadly, unpredictable, erratic. It has 2 distinct senses.
What is another word for "Capricious"?
Other words for "Capricious" include changeable, changeful, fickle, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconsistent and inconstant. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Capricious" you intend.
What are different ways to say "Capricious"?
There are 63 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Capricious". Common alternatives include changeable, changeful, fickle, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconsistent, inconstant, mercurial and mutable.
What is the opposite of "Capricious"?
Antonyms of "Capricious" include certain, changeless, constant, immutable, invariable, predictable, settled and stable. Near antonyms include equable, even, uniform and abiding.
How do you use "Capricious" in a sentence?
Examples of "Capricious" in a sentence: "capricious weather that was balmy one day and freezing cold the next"; "a capricious woman who changed her mind dozens of times about what color to paint the bathroom".
Is "Capricious" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"Capricious" is an adjective.
Is "Capricious" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?
As a C2-level word, "Capricious" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.
How do you pronounce "Capricious"?
"Capricious" is pronounced /kə-ˈpri-shəs/ and divided into syllables as ca·pri·cious.