capricious — given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Pronunciation (IPA): /kəˈprɪʃəs/
Example Sentences
- My capricious cat loves me in the morning but ignores me at night.
- The stock market can be quite capricious, rising and falling without warning.
- Her capricious fashion sense means she dresses like a princess one day and a punk rocker the next.
capricious
ADJECTIVE[/kəˈprɪʃəs/]
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

The capricious king gave the knight a gold medal, but a second later, angrily threw a heavy cup at him.

CAP(hat) + RICE(rice) — the customer ordered a blue CAP, but suddenly changed his mind to RICE, showing his capricious nature.

The golden roasted turkey looked incredibly delicious, but the spoiled prince's appetite was completely capricious.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Italian 'capriccio' meaning a sudden change of mood or whim, derived from 'capra' (goat) and 'riccio' (hedgehog), alluding to the erratic, unpredictable movements of these animals. The word entered English in the 16th century through Italian musical terminology.
Breakdown
capric- (from Italian capra, goat) + -ious (adjective suffix meaning full of or characterized by) = capricious (full of sudden changes like a goat's erratic movements)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My capricious cat loves me in the morning but ignores me at night.”
“The stock market can be quite capricious, rising and falling without warning.”
“Her capricious fashion sense means she dresses like a princess one day and a punk rocker the next.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.