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capricious
adjective
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Caprice and Capricious
The adjective capricious and its close relation, the noun caprice (a synonym of whim), both come via French from the Italian word capriccio, which has disputed origins. Capriccio originally referred not to a sudden desire but to a sudden shiver of horror and likely comes from the Italian capo, meaning “head,” and riccio, the word for “hedgehog.” The implication was that someone who shuddered in fear or horror was said to have a “hedgehog head,” meaning that the person’s hair stood on end like the spines of a hedgehog. The link between a whim and a shiver of horror is notably tenuous, though, and a possible link to Italian capra, meaning “goat,” has also been suggested, given the whimsy goats seem to employ in their gamboling. (Here is a full treatment of the disputed etymology.) Whatever its origins, capriccio came to mean “whim, fancy,” which directly relates to its uses today. Something done in a capricious manner is done on a whim, as in “a capricious decision to join the circus.”
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capricious. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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capricious
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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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