capricious
adjective
-ˈprē-
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Caprice and Capricious
The adjective capricious and its close relation, the noun caprice (a synonym of whim), both come via French from the Italian word capriccio, which has disputed origins. Capriccio originally referred not to a sudden desire but to a sudden shiver of horror and likely comes from the Italian capo, meaning “head,” and riccio, the word for “hedgehog.” The implication was that someone who shuddered in fear or horror was said to have a “hedgehog head,” meaning that the person’s hair stood on end like the spines of a hedgehog. The link between a whim and a shiver of horror is notably tenuous, though, and a possible link to Italian capra, meaning “goat,” has also been suggested, given the whimsy goats seem to employ in their gamboling. (Here is a full treatment of the disputed etymology.) Whatever its origins, capriccio came to mean “whim, fancy,” which directly relates to its uses today. Something done in a capricious manner is done on a whim, as in “a capricious decision to join the circus.”
Synonyms
Examples of capricious in a Sentence
Tom Morganthau, Newsweek, 29 Mar. 1999
She is capricious, however, and is said to take bribes and wantonly peddle her influence from time to time.
—Hunter S. Thompson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994
Lady Luck is a capricious mother who, as in a recurrent nightmare, always offers, never comes through, and never stops smiling.
—Hugh Drummond, Boston Magazine, November 1989
I don't believe in random occurrences or blind chance, though I know the patterns of this world are capricious and terribly complex.
—Leslie Marmon Silko, letter, 21 Aug. 1979
employees who are at the mercy of a capricious manager
The court ruled that the punishment was arbitrary and capricious.
Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024
If this all sounds capricious and impossible to keep track of when trying to decide to play a movie as a two-word or four-word title, don’t worry.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024
Among establishment-minded Republicans leaning toward Harris, a steady hand—even one that would raise taxes on the rich—is much preferred to an erratic President who has proven inconsistent and capricious.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
An environment where the rule of law is increasingly questioned, economic stability is at risk, free trade is stifled by fear of capricious retaliation, and our society is further divided rather than united, is not a good formula for a vibrant economy.
—Steven Tian, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Capricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capricious. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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capricious
adjective
-ˈprē-shəs
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capricious
adjective
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