capricious

  • 1capricious — ca·pri·cious /kə pri shəs, prē / adj 1: governed or characterized by impulse or whim: as a: lacking a rational basis b: likely to change suddenly 2: not supported by the weight of evidence or established rules of law often used in the phrase… …

    Law dictionary

  • 2Capricious — Ca*pri cious (k[.a]*pr[i^]sh [u^]s), a. [Cf. F. capricieux, It. capriccioso.] Governed or characterized by caprice; apt to change suddenly; freakish; whimsical; changeable. Capricious poet. Shak. Capricious humor. Hugh Miller. [1913 Webster] A… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3capricious — 1590s, from Fr. capricieux (16c.), from It. capriccioso, from capriccio (see CAPRICCIO (Cf. capriccio)). Related: Capriciously; capriciousness …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4capricious — mercurial, unstable, *inconstant, fickle Analogous words: *changeable, changeful, protean, variable: moody, humorsome (see corresponding nouns at MOOD): volatile, effervescent (see ELASTIC) Antonyms: steadfast Contrasted words: constant, resolute …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5capricious — [adj] given to sudden behavior change any way the wind blows*, arbitrary, blowing hot and cold*, careless, changeful, contrary, crotchety, effervescent, erratic, every which way*, fanciful, fickle, fitful, flaky*, flighty, freakish, gaga*, helter …

    New thesaurus

  • 6capricious — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour. DERIVATIVES capriciously adverb capriciousness noun …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7capricious — [kə prish′əs, kəprē′shəs] adj. [Fr capricieux < It capriccioso: see CAPRICE] 1. subject to caprices; tending to change abruptly and without apparent reason; erratic; flighty 2. Obs. showing wit or fancifulness SYN. INCONSTANT capriciously adv …

    English World dictionary

  • 8capricious — [[t]kæprɪ̱ʃəs[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED Someone who is capricious often changes their mind unexpectedly. Gerald found that his wife was easily bored, capricious and unpredictable. ...capricious and often brutal leaders. Syn: impulsive, mercurial Derived …

    English dictionary

  • 9capricious — adj. capricious to + inf. (it was capricious to act in that manner) * * * [kə prɪʃəs] capricious to + inf. (it was capricious to act in that manner) …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 10capricious — adjective Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim I almost died in a capricious winter storm. Syn: whimsical, arbitrary …

    Wiktionary