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Elusive vs Capricious - What's the difference?

elusive | capricious |

As adjectives the difference between elusive and capricious

is that elusive is while capricious is impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim.

elusive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.
  • The elusive criminal was arrested
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1910 , author=Jack London , title=Lost Face , chapter=6 citation , passage=Charley chased the elusive idea through all the nooks and crannies of his drowning consciousness.}}
  • Rarely seen.
  • *
  • Difficult to describe.
  • A precise definition of diarrhea is elusive (Robbin's pathology, 8th ed)

    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