What does capriciously mean?
Capriciously is an adverb describing action taken in an unpredictable, impulsive way — marked by sudden changes of mind or mood and lacking any consistent reason or pattern. A person who acts capriciously might approve a plan one day and abandon it the next; weather described as behaving capriciously swings wildly between extremes. The word also carries a critical edge when applied to institutions: laws, judges, or employers who treat people capriciously are acting arbitrarily and unjustly, applying rules according to whim rather than principle. Derived from the adjective 'capricious', which traces back through French to Italian 'capriccio', meaning a sudden start or shiver, the term has long suggested something as skittish and changeable as a startled animal. It appears most often in formal writing — literary criticism, journalism, legal commentary — where its slightly elevated tone suits descriptions of inconsistency and unfairness. Its antonyms include consistently and predictably.
adverbIn a manner that is unpredictable, impulsive, and given to sudden changes of mood or behaviour; without apparent reason or consistency.
- In an unpredictable, impulsive manner, changing suddenly and for no apparent reason.
- (Of rules, judgements, or treatment) applied arbitrarily or unfairly, without consistent principle.
"The weather capriciously swung from brilliant sunshine to driving rain within an hour."
"The manager capriciously changed the deadline three times in one week, leaving the team scrambling."
"Under the old regime, penalties were imposed capriciously, often depending on the ruler's mood that day."
It comes from Italian 'capriccio', the word for a sudden shiver of fear — like a goat's startled twitch — which is why 'capricious' literally means goat-like.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of capriciously
Capriciously derives from 'capricious', which entered English in the early 17th century from French 'capricieux'. That adjective comes from the Italian noun 'capriccio', meaning a sudden shudder or start of fear, itself possibly linked by folk etymology to 'capra' (goat), reflecting the skittish movements of a startled animal. Cognate forms such as 'caprice' and 'capriciousness' developed alongside it in English, all preserving the core sense of sudden, unaccountable change.
Related word forms
How capriciously is actually used
Formal to neutral register; common in literary, journalistic, and legal writing. When applied to rules or punishments it carries a strongly negative connotation, implying unfair or arbitrary treatment.
Easily confused with capriciously
'Capaciously' means with great capacity or breadth, while 'capriciously' means in an erratic, impulsive manner.