capricious

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "capricious" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe someone or something that is unpredictable, determined by chance or whim, and brief in duration. For example, "The weather today is quite capricious, with a light rain shower changing to sunny skies and back again every half hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He said Jock's behaviour in prison had been "exemplary under extreme provocation" and he accused Bulgarian authorities of being "capricious" and "vindictive".

The Guardian

The pitch has largely played well when the sun has been out, becoming capricious only when low cloud has pressed down on the ground.

The Guardian - Sport

That memory, like so much else, is now fading in middle age, becoming limited to a means of recalling what I've read, but an otherwise unreliable, even capricious, tool for much else.

The Guardian - Sport

Sometimes it can feel that life is not so much capricious as downright cruel.

The Guardian - Sport

Now and then, the capricious cacophony of my mind still amazes me: all those thoughts and worries and ideas and fears swirling around in there.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Yet beneath the facade of implacable command was a moody, capricious man with a strained marriage: while he was in India, his wife Edwina had allegedly conducted an affair with the Indian politician Nehru.

The Guardian

Spaghetti westerns, blaxploitation movies, John Wayne: all get their salute as the two men change the purpose of their travels from the hunt for profitable criminals to the finding and freeing of Django's wife, who is still enslaved on a Mississippi plantation owned by the capricious Mr Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).

The Guardian - Opinion

Meanwhile it has emerged that members of the local community have written to senior civil servants at the MoD about the "capricious and intransigent manner" in which they handled the closure of the barracks before reopening it to house the Libyans.

The Guardian

The west coast of Scotland is a most wondrous place but a capricious mistress, as likely to obscure with a thick pelt of dreich grey as reveal stunning land and seascapes.

The Guardian - Travel

If rules are indeed rules, then their application needs to be consistent not capricious.

The Guardian - Sport

The fact that a pitch that has seemed docile for four days can suddenly become capricious and ready to be exploited in the last one or two sessions of the final day is one reason why the proposal of the ECB chairman-elect, Colin Graves, that there should be four-day Tests with an increase in overs per day is wide of the mark.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "capricious", ensure the context clearly indicates unpredictability stemming from whim or impulse, rather than random chance.

Common error

Avoid using "capricious" when "random" is more appropriate. "Capricious" implies a decision or behavior driven by sudden, whimsical impulses, while "random" indicates a lack of pattern or purpose.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "capricious" primarily functions as a modifier, describing nouns with the characteristic of being unpredictable or erratic. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. Examples show its use in describing weather, authorities, and minds.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "capricious" is a grammatically correct adjective widely used to describe something unpredictable and prone to sudden changes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a versatile term found across various contexts, primarily in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific writing. When using "capricious", remember that it suggests an element of whim or impulse, differentiating it from mere randomness. Related terms like "impulsive", "whimsical", and "arbitrary" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context. This word is common and safe to use as long as it accurately reflects the concept of unpredictable behavior driven by impulse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unpredictable

Highlights the inability to foresee or anticipate future behavior or events.

impulsive

Focuses on acting without forethought or planning.

arbitrary

Emphasizes a lack of reason or system in decision-making.

whimsical

Suggests a playful and fanciful nature, often driven by sudden desires.

fickle

Implies a tendency to change one's mind frequently and without apparent reason.

erratic

Describes behavior or movement that is irregular and unpredictable.

changeable

Emphasizes the tendency to undergo alterations or shifts.

unstable

Points to a lack of steadiness or reliability.

mutable

Stresses the capacity or tendency to change in form or quality.

flighty

Suggests a lack of seriousness and a tendency to flit from one thing to another.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "capricious" in a sentence?

Use "capricious" to describe something that is unpredictable and subject to sudden changes of mind or behavior. For example, "The stock market's behavior can be "unpredictable" and "capricious"".

What words can I use instead of "capricious"?

You can use alternatives like "impulsive", "whimsical", or "arbitrary" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "capricious behavior" or "arbitrary behavior"?

Both phrases can be correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Capricious behavior" implies that the behavior is unpredictable and changes suddenly, while "arbitrary behavior" suggests that the behavior is based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

What's the difference between "capricious" and "fickle"?

"Capricious" and "fickle" both describe a lack of consistency, but "capricious" often implies a sudden and impulsive change, while "fickle" suggests a general tendency to change one's mind or affections frequently.