Mercurial
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Mercurial describes someone whose mood or behavior changes rapidly and unpredictably: Her mercurial temperament made her difficult to work with.
The word comes from Mercury, the Roman messenger god known for speed and mutability.
A mercurial person might shift from elation to despair within hours.
The word can suggest creative volatility or unreliability, depending on context.
Liable to sudden change
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- moodyProne to sullenness
- changeableCapable of alteration
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
fickle · erratic · quicksilver · temperamental · impulsive · whimsical · inconstant · flighty
Of ancient Italy's capital
- messengerOne who delivers communications
- HermesOlympian messenger deity
- wingedHaving flight appendages
- fleet-footedMoving with quick lightness
swift · celestial · orbit · retrograde · astronomical · mythology · caduceus · commerce
volatile
Liable to sudden change
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- moodyProne to sullenness
- changeableCapable of alteration
capricious · fickle · erratic · quicksilver · temperamental · impulsive · whimsical · inconstant · flighty · unstable
Roman
Of ancient Italy's capital
- messengerOne who delivers communications
- HermesOlympian messenger deity
- wingedHaving flight appendages
fleet-footed · swift · celestial · orbit · retrograde · astronomical · mythology · caduceus · commerce · thieves
quicksilver
Liquid metallic element
- liquidFree-flowing substance
- silveryPale metallic sheen
- thermometerHeat-measuring instrument
barometer · amalgam · toxic · poisonous · cinnabar · mining · gilding · hatters · mad · contamination
quick-witted
Fast at thinking
agile · brilliant · sprightly · lively · animated · vivacious · spirited · keen · inventive · witty
Mercurialsteady
Fixed, not fluctuating
stable · even-tempered · constant · consistent · phlegmatic
Mercurialunchanging
Not varying at all
constant · fixed · immutable · unchangeable · invariable
- mercuric chlorideToxic mercury-based salt