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Capricious vs Wayward - What's the difference?

capricious | wayward |

As adjectives the difference between capricious and wayward

is that capricious is impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim while wayward is given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray.

capricious

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim
    • I almost died in a capricious winter storm.
    Stringent rulers are unlikely to act capriciously .
    The Mayor claimed that the action was reasonable, but in reality the action was arbitrary and capricious in nature.
  • *

    • Usage notes

    * Capricious can describe both a person and the decisions they make.

    Synonyms

    * whimsical * arbitrary

    Antonyms

    * conscientious * rigorous

    Derived terms

    * capriciously

    Related terms

    * caprice

    wayward

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray
  • obstinate, contrary and unpredictable
  • (sports) not on target
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 2 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Bulgaria 0-3 England , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Bulgaria's only attacking weapon was the wayward shooting of Martin Petrov, whereas England's attacking options were awash with movement in the shape of Rooney, Young and Walcott.}}