MERCURIAL Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'mercurial' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mercurial are capricious , fickle , inconstant , and unstable . While all these words mean "lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion)," mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood. // made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament

Q: When could 'capricious' be used to replace 'mercurial'?

The words capricious and mercurial can be used in similar contexts, but capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability. // an utterly capricious critic

Q: When is 'fickle' a more appropriate choice than 'mercurial'?

While in some cases nearly identical to mercurial , fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness. // performers discover how fickle fans can be

Q: When is it sensible to use 'inconstant' instead of 'mercurial'?

The synonyms inconstant and mercurial are sometimes interchangeable, but inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change. // an inconstant friend

Q: When would 'unstable' be a good substitute for 'mercurial'?

Although the words unstable and mercurial have much in common, unstable implies an incapacity for remaining in a fixed position or steady course and applies especially to a lack of emotional balance. // too unstable to hold a job

mercurial

adjective

(ˌ)mər-ˈkyu̇r-ē-əl

Definition of mercurial next

as in volatile

likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly the boss's mood is so mercurial that we never know how he's going to react to anything

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How does the adjective mercurial differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mercurial are capricious, fickle, inconstant, and unstable. While all these words mean "lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion)," mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood.

made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament

When could capricious be used to replace mercurial?

The words capricious and mercurial can be used in similar contexts, but capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability.

an utterly capricious critic

When is fickle a more appropriate choice than mercurial?

While in some cases nearly identical to mercurial, fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness.

performers discover how fickle fans can be

When is it sensible to use inconstant instead of mercurial?

The synonyms inconstant and mercurial are sometimes interchangeable, but inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change.

an inconstant friend

When would unstable be a good substitute for mercurial?

Although the words unstable and mercurial have much in common, unstable implies an incapacity for remaining in a fixed position or steady course and applies especially to a lack of emotional balance.

too unstable to hold a job

Examples of mercurial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Based on a memoir of the same name by the real-life Michell, the film adaptation tells the story of how an adorable penguin gets a new companion in the form of a mercurial yet charming British man who is stunted by his tragic past. —

Beandrea July, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2024 That combination of Trump’s mercurial but hard-line foreign policy with Vance’s outlook, which Princeton’s Kurtzer characterizes as viewing the world entirely through the prism of America’s borders and interests, may scare off potential U.S. allies. —

David Hodari, NBC News, 3 Aug. 2024 The kicker is that rather than catering to mercurial trends to boost sales, or succumbing to the fashion cycle’s untenable pace, their organic growth stemmed from adhering to their brand DNA and honing-in on their community of shoppers. —

Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024 But in July the mercurial billionaire tweeted that X would move its headquarters to Austin, citing California legislation banning public schools from notifying parents about student changes to their gender identity. —

Kali Hays, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mercurial

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mercurial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.