fickle
[ fik-uhl ]
/ ˈfɪk əl /
adjective
likely to change, especially due to caprice, irresolution, or instability; casually changeable: fickle weather.
not constant or loyal in affections: a fickle lover.
Origin of fickle
before 1000; Middle English
fikel, Old English
ficol deceitful, akin to
fācen treachery,
fician to deceive,
gefic deception
SYNONYMS FOR fickle
2
inconstant.
1, 2
Fickle,
inconstant,
capricious,
vacillating describe persons or things that are not firm or steady in affection, behavior, opinion, or loyalty.
Fickle implies an underlying perversity as a cause for the lack of stability:
the fickle seasons, disappointing as often as they delight; once lionized, now rejected by a fickle public.
Inconstant suggests an innate disposition to change:
an inconstant lover, flitting from affair to affair.
Capricious implies unpredictable changeability arising from sudden whim:
a capricious administration constantly and inexplicably changing its signals; a capricious and astounding reversal of position.
Vacillating means changeable due to lack of resolution or firmness:
an indecisive, vacillating leader, apparently incapable of a sustained course of action.
OTHER WORDS FROM fickle
fick·le·ness, noun un·fick·le, adjectiveWords nearby fickle
fichte,
fichtean,
fichtelgebirge,
fichu,
ficino,
fickle,
fickle-minded,
fico,
ficoll-hypaque technique,
ficosis,
fict.
Example sentences from the Web for fickle
British Dictionary definitions for fickle
fickle
/ (ˈfɪkəl) /
adjective
changeable in purpose, affections, etc; capricious
Derived forms of fickle
fickleness, nounWord Origin for fickle
Old English
ficol deceitful; related to
fician to wheedle,
befician to deceive