Capricious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /kə-ˈpri-shəs/ ca·pri·cious

Meaning & Definition of Capricious

Capricious (adjective)

  1. governed or characterized by sudden irrational and unpredictable impulses or whims, impulsive; broadly, unpredictable, erratic
  2. not supported by the weight of evidence or established rules of law

Capricious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly

    "capricious weather that was balmy one day and freezing cold the next"

  2. 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

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.