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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of caprice
Over that time his work neatly evaded the whims and caprices of fashion, achieving a kind of timelessness and clarity of purpose.
—
Anna Wintour, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
The caprice of the wind was the only reason there was evidence to recover in the first place.
—Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Fear of political caprice masquerading as strategy, of a trade war metastasizing into financial contagion, and of a world where traditional safe havens—currencies, institutions, alliances—no longer offer much safety at all.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Two questions arise: If self-driving cars can’t handle such examples of human caprice, how will people feel about sharing space with these new aliens?
—Rodney Brooks, IEEE Spectrum, 27 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for caprice
Anna Wintour, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
The caprice of the wind was the only reason there was evidence to recover in the first place.
—Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Fear of political caprice masquerading as strategy, of a trade war metastasizing into financial contagion, and of a world where traditional safe havens—currencies, institutions, alliances—no longer offer much safety at all.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Two questions arise: If self-driving cars can’t handle such examples of human caprice, how will people feel about sharing space with these new aliens?
—Rodney Brooks, IEEE Spectrum, 27 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for caprice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caprice
Noun
-
Airports were named for geographical locations, not to satisfy political whims.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
There are still many in this country who value truth, who believe that history should be preserved and not erased, who understand that constitutional rights should not be swept away to suit the whims of a megalomaniac, and who refuse to wallow in ignorance and hate.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Paranoia’s impulsiveness, fixation, and self consciousness are mirrored in romance as a desire to be perceived in a particular way by a specific audience, a curiosity to uncover something deeper and more vital, and the desire to disappear into a world safe from outside perceptions.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Lofland says that while Cooper’s decisions might frustrate the audience, his impulsiveness is an important part of what makes the character tick.—
William Earl,
Variety,
14 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The capriciousness of fate was not lost on Karstens and many of the survivors.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
23 Dec. 2025
-
The president’s bombast and capriciousness have led many European countries to increase their defense spending—a positive outcome, to be sure, and not inherently at odds with the notion of a unified, geopolitical West.—
Stewart Patrick,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Caprice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caprice. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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