caprice

noun

kə-ˈprēs How to pronounce caprice (audio)
Definition of capricenext
1
as in whim
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action an out-of-character caprice led him to take the day off from work and go to the beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in impulsiveness
an inclination to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions his knack for picking racetrack winners appears to owe as much to caprice as it does to a canny assessment of horseflesh

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word caprice distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of caprice are crotchet, vagary, and whim. While all these words mean "an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire," caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness.

by sheer caprice she quit her job

When could crotchet be used to replace caprice?

In some situations, the words crotchet and caprice are roughly equivalent. However, crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference.

a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets

Where would vagary be a reasonable alternative to caprice?

The words vagary and caprice can be used in similar contexts, but vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire.

he had been prone to strange vagaries

When can whim be used instead of caprice?

The synonyms whim and caprice are sometimes interchangeable, but whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination.

an odd antique that was bought on a whim

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of caprice But statistics fail to convey the humanity of yard sales—the caprice, whimsy, and high spirits, as well as the cunning, weirdness, and heartbreak, that charge and thicken the air when two people agree to perform an off-the-books monetary transaction. — Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026 One needed Mother Nature to bestow upon brewers the right temperatures for making beer, and in the days before refrigeration and even thermometers, that meant that brewing was largely dictated by the caprices of the seasons. — Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026 Order the waterzooi — the house specialty seafood stew — the duck confit, the crepe caprice, or the escargot petit gris served in a Roquefort cream sauce. — Usa Today Network, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026 Meyer was powerless in his battle to protect the dollar from FDR’s caprice. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for caprice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caprice
  1. whim
  2. impulsiveness
  3. capriciousness
Noun
  • From here on out, the authorship of Tae-ju’s life is ambiguous, as well as constantly in flux, buffeted by the whims and suggestions of others, as well as by her own impulses.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But elevating the whims of progressive activists and government bureaucrats above the wisdom of the marketplace has proven a costly mistake and undermined consumer choice.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of whim
Noun
  • His earlier films offer the immediacy of real-time creation, of something not unfinished but unreworked, thrust onto the screen with an impulsiveness that’s balanced by the careful conception behind it.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Yakkity’s impulsiveness and wisecracking jokes provide the laughs, while Keo’s rivalry with his father (and his crush on Lemony) ground the show with genuine emotional dynamics.
    — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026
Definition of impulsiveness
Noun
  • Herman enjoys the capriciousness of the kiln, never knowing quite what will emerge from it.
    — Marissa Gluck, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Trump’s credibility has been undercut by his own capriciousness.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of capriciousness

Browse Nearby Words

capriccios
caprice
caprices
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Caprice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caprice. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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