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
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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 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
The lawsuit, filed by the legal group Democracy Forward on behalf of unions representing more than 800,000 civil servants, alleges that the Trump administration's resignation offer is arbitrary and capricious as well as unlawful.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 6 Feb. 2025
In Poland, the capricious degrees and forms of oppression, reflecting Stalin’s murderous personality, fostered a vacillating, self-deceptive kind of surrender by the captive mind, imprisoned not by bars or walls but by its own failures of conviction.
—Robert Pinsky, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
The lawsuit, filed by the legal group Democracy Forward on behalf of unions representing more than 800,000 civil servants, alleges that the Trump administration's resignation offer is arbitrary and capricious as well as unlawful.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 6 Feb. 2025
In Poland, the capricious degrees and forms of oppression, reflecting Stalin’s murderous personality, fostered a vacillating, self-deceptive kind of surrender by the captive mind, imprisoned not by bars or walls but by its own failures of conviction.
—Robert Pinsky, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for capricious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capricious
Adjective
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His masculinity, though less volatile, is as stunted as Stanley’s.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Against this volatile backdrop, CNBC Pro screened for S & P 500 companies whose shares have quickly been losing steam.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Financial preparedness gives you the freedom to make informed choices, not just impulsive ones.—
Marc Shaffer,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2025
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Now Donald Trump, in his impulsive and narcissistic approach to the nation's foreign policy, threatens to pull the rug out and let Putin win after all.—
Bradley Gitz,
arkansasonline.com,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Sometimes, as today’s business leaders are well aware, the future is unpredictable, and its demands are unprecedented.—
Anar Mammadov,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
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March Madness will always be unpredictable—but that doesn't mean your bracket has to be.—
Kilty Cleary,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The film is set in a dystopian future and follows a teenage girl who teams with an eccentric grifter and mysterious robot to find her brother.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
13 Mar. 2025
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Its latest, Brown Flowers, has an eccentric collection of notes (Queen Anne’s lace!—
Jackie Fields,
People.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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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However, the Jets’ defense was inconsistent after Robert Saleh’s firing following a 2-3 start.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2025
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But uneven rain patterns across the state mean the wildflower situation will be inconsistent.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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On the flip side, the cushy, rocker-bottom shoe that makes your miles feel oh-so-smooth can leave you wobbly and unstable in the weight room.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
11 Mar. 2025
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Our dependence on oil puts countless service members’ lives at risk and reinforces our reliance on a volatile and unstable global market with the potential to devastate the U.S. economy.—
James Brock,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to capricious
Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capricious. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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