EN

Synonyms for mercurial

  • adjective
  • noun

Most common

unpredictable erratic fickle changeable spirited sprightly

Synonyms by meaning

Adjective

1. Fickle — having a lively or volatile character; animated, changeable, quick-witted

fickle, erratic, changeable, unpredictable, quicksilver formal, inconstant, flighty, variable, light, giddy, volatile, unstable, capricious, mutable, vacillating, unsettled, unsteady, fitful, changeful rare

2. Spirited

spirited, sprightly, nimble, lively, active, quick, prompt, spry, agile, brisk

Noun

mercury, annual mercury

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Having a lively or volatile character; animated, changeable, quick-witted.

    his mercurial temperament

  2. adj. 2

    Pertaining to the astrological influence of the planet Mercury; having the characteristics of a person under such influence (see adjective sense 1).

  3. n. 1

    A person born under the influence of the planet Mercury; hence, a person having an eloquent, quickwitted, furtive, or volatile character.

Related words

Word family
mercurialization mercurialize mercuric mercury
Phrases
mercurial finger

Forms

Plural
mercurials → mercuries…

Example sentences

  • unpredictable Sami's father was a violent and unpredictable man.
  • erratic We had to lessen the impact of the erratic supplies.
  • fickle Women are very fickle. Trusting them is foolish.
  • changeable The weather is very changeable at this time of year.
  • spirited She chose the most spirited horse in the stable.
  • sprightly Our best player is a real sprightly fellow.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
mercurialsteady
unpredictablerising
erraticfalling
ficklerising
changeablerising
spiritedrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
spry1
5 letters
light1, quick1, agile2, giddy2, brisk1
6 letters
active2, lively2, prompt1, fickle2, nimble2, fitful2
7 letters
mercury3, erratic3, flighty2, mutable3
8 letters
variable4, unstable3, volatile3, spirited3, unsteady3
9 letters
unsettled3, sprightly2, changeful
10 letters
changeable3, capricious3, inconstant
11 letters
quicksilver3, vacillating4
13 letters
unpredictable5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (agile2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
mercuriel