1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
capricious weather that was balmy one day and freezing cold the next
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impulsive
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of capricious
The doctors argued the removal was arbitrary and capricious, violating the Administrative Procedure Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
—
Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Driving the news: The states charge the administration acted in an arbitrary and capricious way by not explaining the basis for the cap.
—Tina Reed, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025
The states are alleging that this fails to make the policy any less arbitrary or capricious.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 10 Feb. 2025
The Cubs argued Vincent was acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner outside the scope of his legal authority.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Driving the news: The states charge the administration acted in an arbitrary and capricious way by not explaining the basis for the cap.
—Tina Reed, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025
The states are alleging that this fails to make the policy any less arbitrary or capricious.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 10 Feb. 2025
The Cubs argued Vincent was acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner outside the scope of his legal authority.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capricious
Adjective
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In Haiti, there hasn’t been a general election in nearly a decade; more than a million have been displaced by armed gang violence and the country’s volatile capital is on the verge of collapse.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
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Listen to this article For about nine minutes, Tiara Lee-Roberts and her girlfriend had a volatile argument on the 69th Street Red Line platform, prosecutors alleged, until Lee-Roberts put a gun to the woman’s neck and shot her.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The proliferation of financial news, sensationalist headlines, and social media can amplify anxiety, leading to impulsive decisions that deviate from long-term plans.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Even during a recession, advisors should encourage clients to avoid impulsive moves like selling assets at depressed prices.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Of course, politics is unpredictable, and his message could, in theory, have more resonance with Democratic primary voters this time around.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
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Towards the end of the first decade of the century, the Nike Total 90 range was incredibly unpredictable in the air.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Ballad of Wallis Island sees Key play Charles, an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of reuniting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer, a duo played by Basden and Promising Young Woman's Carey Mulligan, for a private show.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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He’s invited her along on a business trip, to the wilderness retreat of eccentric zillionaire Odell (Richard E. Grant), the head of a hugely lucrative pharmaceuticals company.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.—
Jordan Kisner Jack Davison,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2022
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Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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His current form may be inconsistent at best, but Finau believes the best results of his career are still ahead of him.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
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But without a strong messaging foundation, those pieces can feel scattered, inconsistent, or even contradictory.—
Rhea Wessel,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Sudan has faced years of chaos and war Sudan, a nation in northeastern Africa, has been unstable since a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocratic President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir in 2019.—
Samy Magdy and Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
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Vietnam already has a shortage of labor, and the situation in Bangladesh is unstable at this time.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capricious. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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