Synonym Chooser

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mercurial As a motorsport competitor, the GT40 was constantly being improved upon to achieve better performance, reliability, and results, and to keep pace with often mercurial race-series rules and regulations that eventually banned the 7.0-liter cars altogether. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2024 The mercurial Gophers, who had won four in a row before a recent loss to Rutgers, will try to test that theorem in a semi-rivalry matchup with a forgotten trophy. Justin Williams, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024 The play of Zadorov (six years x $5 million), who leads the league in minor penalties, has been mercurial, bringing the heat physically but too often finding himself out of position. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 14 Nov. 2024 The mercurial nature of Van Buren often demanded Pearce to convey multiple emotions at once. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mercurial 

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Cite this Entry

“Mercurial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercurial. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mercurial

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