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capriciousgiven 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.
💡 Concept

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.
🧠 Mnemonic

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.
🎵 Rhyme

The golden roasted turkey looked incredibly delicious, but the spoiled prince's appetite was completely capricious.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/kəˈprɪʃəs/
🇬🇧 UK/kəˈprɪʃəs/

🌳Etymology

Rootcapri
Suffix--cious

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

deliciousmalicioussuspiciousambitious
delicious
malicious
suspicious
ambitious

🔗Collocations

capricious weather
capricious nature
capricious decision
capricious behavior
capricious mood
capricious boss

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

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.

😄 Fun example

Her capricious fashion sense means she dresses like a princess one day and a punk rocker the next.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

unpredictableficklewhimsicalerraticvolatile

Antonyms

consistentstablepredictable

Related

whimsicalimpulsivemercurialtemperamental

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