adj

capricious

kuh-PRIH-shuhs

Capricious (adj) means changing mood or behavior suddenly and unpredictably, without an obvious reason. Example: “The capricious weather made it impossible to plan the picnic.”

adj

Changing mood or behavior suddenly and unpredictably, without an obvious reason.

"The capricious weather made it impossible to plan the picnic."

"Their capricious boss changed the rules every week."

How to use capricious

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUnpredictable and prone to sudden changes of mind.

Easily confused with

caprice →

Common pairings

capricious behavior capricious weather

Word forms

more capricious comparative, most capricious superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ weather made it impossible to plan the picnic.

Etymology

From Italian capriccioso, from capriccio ("caprice, sudden fright").

Origin: Italian

Rhymes for capricious

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tenuous tedious spurious

See all rhymes for capricious →

Frequently asked questions

What does “capricious” mean?

The word “capricious” means changing mood or behavior suddenly and unpredictably, without an obvious reason. In plain terms, unpredictable and prone to sudden changes of mind.

How do you pronounce “capricious”?

“Capricious” is pronounced kuh-PRIH-shuhs (/kəˈpɹɪʃəs/ in IPA).

How do you use “capricious” in a sentence?

Here is “capricious” used in a sentence: “The capricious weather made it impossible to plan the picnic.”

What part of speech is “capricious”?

“Capricious” is an adjective.

Where does the word “capricious” come from?

The word “capricious” comes from Italian. From Italian capriccioso, from capriccio ("caprice, sudden fright").

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Vocabulary lists that include capricious:

SAT vocabulary words Words with Italian origins