adj
Uncommon
fickle
FIHK-uhl
Fickle (adj) means changing opinions, loyalties, or feelings often and without warning. Example: “The crowd's support proved fickle once the team started losing.”
adj
1
Changing opinions, loyalties, or feelings often and without warning.
"The crowd's support proved fickle once the team started losing."
"He's a fickle friend, always dropping people when something better comes along."
How to use fickle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnreliable and prone to sudden changes of mind or loyalty.
Common pairings
fickle fans
fickle weather
fickle friend
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- fickles
- Past tense
- fickled
- Comparative
- fickler, more fickle
- Superlative
- ficklest, most fickle
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The crowd's support proved _____ once the team started losing.
Etymology
From Old English ficol ("cunning, deceitful"), related to the old word fike ("to move restlessly").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for fickle
See all rhymes for fickle →Frequently asked questions
What does “fickle” mean?
The word “fickle” means changing opinions, loyalties, or feelings often and without warning. In plain terms, unreliable and prone to sudden changes of mind or loyalty.
How do you pronounce “fickle”?
“Fickle” is pronounced FIHK-uhl (/ˈfɪk.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “fickle” in a sentence?
Here is “fickle” used in a sentence: “The crowd's support proved fickle once the team started losing.”
What part of speech is “fickle”?
“Fickle” is an adjective.
Where does the word “fickle” come from?
The word “fickle” comes from Old English. From Old English ficol ("cunning, deceitful"), related to the old word fike ("to move restlessly").
Is “fickle” a common word?
“Fickle” is an uncommon word in modern English.
