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fickle

fickle

39 6.2
Changing often in a way you cannot rely on
  • adjective
  • /ˈfɪkəl/
translation icon : inconstante
  • Her interest in the project was fickle; one week she was excited and the next she wasn't.
  • public opinion is fickle
  • a fickle nature
  • notoriously fickle

People are notoriously stubborn and fickle and wilful.

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Examples

  • The human mind is fickle, always wanting new variety and new terrain.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I gave up on a career in event management because I thought it was too volatile a business, too fickle.

  • And yeah, you got to like, the Internet is so fickle in the sense that if you stop, they stop.

  • These are fickle times, Dick.

  • We are reminded of the fickle nature of the weather.

    Academic text (2010)
  • But war is notoriously fickle, and at any moment things could change.

  • Mechanical and electrical engineers worked together on increasingly sophisticated products meant to please fickle consumers.

    Academic text (2003)
  • In Maine, most potato farms rely on the fickle precipitation that nature provides.

    Academic text (2006)
  • International relations are not fickle variables to be reset sporadically at the push of a button.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The party keeps looking hopefully at the clouds, as the fickle sun surfaces and retreats.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

erratic
vsfickle
94 6.1

Not regular or predictable and likely to change suddenly

is about feeling and loyalty change rather than general irregularity
unreliable
vsfickle
71 4.1

Not able to be trusted to work or be right

focuses on changing feelings and loyalties rather than general trustworthiness
volatile
vsfickle
34 7.4

Having sudden unpredictable changes in feelings toward others

is about frequent change and general unreliability rather than only sudden shifts
temperamental
vsfickle
12 6.5

Tends to change mood suddenly and act in an unexpected way

is general frequent change in feelings not only sensitivity driven
wishy-washy
vsfickle
  • Informal
12 7.3

Not firm or brave when making decisions

is about unpredictable change in feelings and loyalty rather than mere indecision
mercurial
vsfickle
7 8.2

Changing mood or behaviour suddenly and without warning

is broader meaning repeated change and lack of steadiness
hot and cold
vsfickle
  • Informal
4 6.8

A person who feels interested one moment and not interested the next

covers all frequent unpredictable changes not only mood extremes
inconstant
vsfickle
2 7.5

Changing often and not staying the same

adds unpredictable mood swings and unreliability rather than only frequency
labile
vsfickle
1 9.7

Able to change or break down easily

focuses on sudden unpredictable mood and loyalty shifts rather than mere instability
changeful
vsfickle
  • Archaic
1 7.5

Tends to be different often

emphasizes personal feelings and loyalty shifts rather than general change
flitty
vsfickle
  • UK
8.4

Acting quickly and changing mood or interest often

describes general frequent unpredictable change not only restless quick shifts
a bit switchy
vsfickle
  • UK
9.2

Often changes mood or behavior quickly and without warning

means frequent and unreliable change in feelings rather than mild unpredictability

Antonyms

505 1.0

Always supporting a person or group, especially in hard times

360 2.7

Stays the same over time

358 2.7

Able to be trusted to do what is expected

Idioms

9.9

A sudden change that breaks your plans, often causing trouble

Compounds

A habit of often changing one's mind or feelings without warning

How Fickle

capricious
19 7.9
erratic
94 6.1
fickle
39 6.2
inconstant
2 7.5
changeable
8 3.5

Surface Forms

fickle positive
fickler comparative
ficklest superlative

Etymology

Fickle comes from an old English word ficol that meant 'deceitful' or 'untrustworthy'. So think of someone's feelings changing like the wind: that idea of being false or always shifting is why fickle means 'changing often and not reliable'.