Capricious
hardkuh-PRISH-us
adjective
Definition
Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Examples
“The capricious weather made planning the outdoor event difficult.”
“His capricious nature made him an unreliable business partner.”
Categories
GRE Tip
Capricious is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "fickle" or "volatile" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "steady".
Related GRE Words
mercurial
Subject to sudden changes in mood or behavior; volatile and unpredictable
fickle
Changing frequently, especially regarding one's loyalties or affections
aberrant
Deviating from what is normal or expected
circumspect
Wary and unwilling to take risks; cautious
volatile
Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse
turbulent
Characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion; not stable or calm
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