capricious
Given to whims
It is never complimentary to describe a person, action, or behavior as capricious because the word characterizes something or someone as unpredictable, impulsive, changeable, and not motivated by reason.
A near synonym is arbitrary, which has many of the same connotations.
The noun underlying the adjective capricious is the somewhat infrequent caprice.
Liable to sudden change
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- unstableProne to sudden change
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
sporadic · fluctuating · variable · changeful · fitful · random · haphazard · uneven
Prone to fluctuation
- changeableCapable of alteration
- flightyErratic and unreliable
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- moodyProne to sullenness
skittish · restless · undependable · unreliable · mutable · vacillating · indecisive · unfaithful
Inclined toward fun
- quirkyIdiosyncratically unusual
- fancifulImaginatively unrealistic
- fantasticalExtravagantly unreal or imaginary
- eccentricUnconventional in character
lighthearted · zany · frolicsome · droll · mischievous · impish · pixieish · elfin
Arising without external cause
- impetuousActing on sudden urge
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- abruptSharp and unexpected
sudden · unplanned · unpremeditated · unthinking · headlong · heedless · unconsidered · spur-of-the-moment
volatile
Liable to sudden change
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- unstableProne to sudden change
irregular · sporadic · fluctuating · variable · changeful · fitful · random · haphazard · uneven · intermittent
inconstant
Prone to fluctuation
- changeableCapable of alteration
- flightyErratic and unreliable
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
moody · skittish · restless · undependable · unreliable · mutable · vacillating · indecisive · unfaithful · disloyal
playful
Inclined toward fun
- quirkyIdiosyncratically unusual
- fancifulImaginatively unrealistic
- fantasticalExtravagantly unreal or imaginary
eccentric · lighthearted · zany · frolicsome · droll · mischievous · impish · pixieish · elfin · puckish
spontaneous
Arising without external cause
abrupt · sudden · unplanned · unpremeditated · unthinking · headlong · heedless · unconsidered · spur-of-the-moment · snap
- SAT vocabularyaesthetic, ambiguous, benevolent, candid, concise
- fancy wordsgrandiloquent, magniloquent, sesquipedalian, pulchritudinous, tintinnabulation
- chancechance, luck, lottery, dice, randomness
- stabilitystable, steady, firmness, unstable, equilibrium
- unreasonableirrational, absurd, illogical, senseless, ludicrous
- whimsicalwhimsical, whimsy, fanciful, playful, quirky
capriciousconsistent
Not varying or contradicting
steady · constant · predictable · unchanging · stable
capricioussteadfast
Firmly loyal, unshakeable
dependable · reliable · faithful · trustworthy · sure
capriciousdeliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
sensible · reasoned · principled · methodical · systematic