given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
example
Her capricious nature made it difficult for her friends to keep up with her ever-changing whims.
synonyms
ficklewhimsicalmercurial
word origin — from French 'capricieux' or from Italian 'capriccioso', which derives from 'capriccio' meaning 'a shivering, whim' or 'from 'capra' meaning 'goat' (in reference to the unpredictability of a goat's behavior).
capricious, immaterial, fanatical, negligible, discontinuous: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 322. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
capricious · adjective/kəˈprɪʃ.əs/
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Her capricious nature made it difficult for her friends to keep up with her ever-changing whims.
Synonyms: fickle, whimsical, mercurial
Origin: from French 'capricieux' or from Italian 'capriccioso', which derives from 'capriccio' meaning 'a shivering, whim' or 'from 'capra' meaning 'goat' (in reference to the unpredictability of a goat's behavior).
immaterial · adjective/ɪməˈtɪriəl/
not relating to material things; intangible or irrelevant
The philosophical debate often centers around immaterial concepts such as justice and morality, which cannot be quantified or measured.
Synonyms: insignificant, irrelevant, intangible
Origin: From Latin 'immaterialis', where 'in-' means 'not' and 'materialis' means 'material'.
fanatical · adjective/fəˈnætɪkəl/
marked by excessive enthusiasm or devotion to a cause or idea
His fanatical devotion to the football team led him to travel across the country for every game.
Synonyms: zealous, fervent, obsessive
Origin: From Middle French 'fanatique', from Latin 'fanaticus', from 'fanum' meaning 'temple' or 'shrine'.
negligible · adjective/ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəbl/
so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering
The error in the calculations was negligible compared to the overall result.
Synonyms: insignificant, trivial, inconsequential
Origin: from Latin 'neglegibilis', from 'neglegere' meaning 'to neglect'
discontinuous · adjective/ˌdɪskənˈtɪnjuəs/
not continuing without interruption or change
The research revealed that the economic growth was marked by a discontinuous pattern, with several abrupt recessions interrupting the upward trend.
Synonyms: intermittent, sporadic, broken
Origin: From Latin 'discontinuus', from 'dis-' meaning 'apart' and 'continuus' meaning 'continuous'.