capricious

comparative more capricious · superlative most capricious

1. Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim.

   I almost died in a capricious winter storm.

   4 more examples

   Stringent rulers are unlikely to act capriciously.

   I am heere with thee, and thy Goats, as the moſt capricious Poet honeſt Ouid was among Gothes.

   c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], page 198

   "Capricious?" And at this monsieur began to laugh. "Oh no, I'm not capricious. I am very faithful. I am very constant. Comprenez?"

   1876 June, Henry James, Jr., chapter I, in The American, Boston, Mass.: James R[ipley] Osgood and Company, […], published 5 May 1877, →OCLC, page 11

   Although much has been learned about lightning and its effects through research and study, many questions are still unanswered and the upper limits of voltage, current and total energy that may be associated with lightning are not conclusively defined. The apparent capricious nature of lightning is evidenced by the range of extremes as well as, in some cases, the unique nature of the damage that results. Thus, to predict in the absence of physical evidence the exact mechanism of ignition in this particular case is not possible. By the same reasoning, in view of the known facts of this accident, there is no logical explanation for ignition of the flammable vapors other than some effect stemming directly from the lightning strike.

   1965 February 25, Civil Aeronautics Board, “Analysis”, in Aircraft Accident Report: Pan American World Airways, Inc Boeing 707-121, N709PA, Near Elkton, Maryland, December 8, 1963, archived from the original on 01 Dec 2024, page 12

   Synonyms: arbitrary, whimsical, fickle, flighty, wayward · Antonyms: conscientious, rigorous