capricious
/kəˈprɪʃəs/ (bre, ipa) · [kəprˈɪʃəs] /kəˈprɪʃəs/ (ame, ipa) · [kəprˈɪʃəs] /kə-ˈpri-shəs How to pronounce capricious (audio) -ˈprē- How to pronounce capricious (audio)/ (ame, mw)
capricious — adjective
- capriciouspositive
- more capriciouscomparative
- most capricioussuperlative
1. Quick to change feelings, decisions, or behaviour for no clear reason.
Quick to change feelings, decisions, or behaviour for no clear reason.
Ritu can be capricious, praising a plan one day and rejecting it the next.
contrast: sudden opinion change
The capricious coach benched Karim after one small mistake in practice.
At lunch, Mira grew capricious and changed seats three times.
Christopher was capricious, moving the team's deadline again and again.
Just before the guests arrived, Lucas grew capricious and cancelled dinner.
- fickle
Often suggests weak loyalty or affection, while 'capricious' stresses sudden, hard-to-predict changes.
- impulsive
Focuses on acting without thinking first; 'capricious' focuses more on unstable changes of mind.
- temperamental
Often implies emotional ups and downs; 'capricious' can also describe arbitrary decisions.
- steady
Suggests stable behaviour and dependable reactions.
- consistent
Emphasises that behaviour and decisions do not shift unpredictably.
文法句型
capricious + noun
be + capricious
用法筆記
Usually describes a person's attitude, treatment of others, or decisions. Distinguish from sense 2, which is more often used for weather, schedules, signals, and other changing conditions.
2. Likely to shift in an unpredictable way instead of following a steady pattern.
Likely to shift in an unpredictable way instead of following a steady pattern.
Spring weather here is capricious, so Anong packs both sandals and a coat.
collocation: capricious weather
The mountain wind was capricious, pushing the kite left and then down.
Iris avoided the capricious ferry schedule and took the early train instead.
Tourist numbers were capricious that month, so the cafe changed its opening hours.
A capricious internet signal kept Manuela's video call freezing and reconnecting.
- erratic
Usually suggests irregular movement or performance; 'capricious' adds a sense of arbitrary change.
- unpredictable
Broader and more neutral; 'capricious' often feels sharper and more literary.
- changeable
A simpler word for something that often shifts, but it is weaker than 'capricious'.
文法句型
capricious + noun
be + capricious
用法筆記
Most often used for systems, conditions, or natural forces that change without warning. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses on a person's shifting attitude or behaviour.