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capricious
adjective
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How long has caprice appeared in English?
The adjective capricious and its close relation, the noun caprice (a synonym of whim), both derive via French from the Italian capriccio, which originally referred not to a sudden desire but to a sudden shudder of fear. Capriccio, in turn, likely derives from the Italian capo, meaning "head," and riccio, the word for "hedgehog." The implication was that someone who shuddered in fear was said to have a "hedgehog head," meaning that the person's hair stood on end like the spines of a hedgehog.
Synonyms
inconstant, fickle, capricious, mercurial, unstable mean lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion).
inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change.
fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness.
capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability.
mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood.
unstable implies an incapacity for remaining in a fixed position or steady course and applies especially to a lack of emotional balance.
Examples of capricious in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'capricious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capricious. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Kids Definition
capricious
adjectiveLegal Definition
capricious
adjectiveMore from Merriam-Webster on capricious
Nglish: Translation of capricious for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of capricious for Arabic Speakers
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