capricious
kuh-PRISH-us · adjective
Changing suddenly and unpredictably, often without a clear reason.
Memory connection
Picture “Capri—shush!”
A wind over Capri falls silent when told ‘shush,’ then immediately howls and changes direction for no apparent reason.
The sound cue helps you reach the scene; the action in the scene carries you from the scene to the definition.
Use it accurately
Meaning in context
The region’s capricious weather can shift from sunshine to hail within minutes.
Employees found it difficult to satisfy a capricious supervisor whose priorities changed daily.
Capricious describes unpredictable behavior, decisions, weather, fortune, or taste. It often implies that changes are arbitrary rather than responsive to evidence.
Common patterns
- capricious behavior
- a capricious decision
- notoriously capricious
Quick check
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What makes a rule capricious?
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