It was simply caprice that led them to shoplift.
Source: tatoeba (10545050)
Caprice
/kəˈpɹiːs/
Synonyms for "caprice" (85 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (17)
Adjective(1 words)
arbitrary judgment
Strong matches (26)
Related words (42)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: impulse, whim, arbitrariness, arbitrary judgment, bee.
- Sentence evidence is available for caprice, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "caprice".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "caprice"
Keep "caprice" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "caprice" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "caprice", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "caprice" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
5 entriesCollocations
6 entriesInflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
I'm not sure whether this is some new caprice or a permanent commitment.
Source: tatoeba (10957304)
George Frederick Handel, unquestionably the greatest master of music the world has ever known, was born at Halle, in Upper Saxony, on the 24th of February, 1684. Scarcely could he speak, before he articulated musical sounds; and his father, a physician, then upwards of sixty, having destined him for the law, grieved at the child’s propensity to music, banished from his house all musical instruments. But the immortal spark of genius, which Heaven had kindled in the infant’s bosom, was not to be extinguished by the caprice of a mistaken parent. The child contrived to get a little clavichord into a garret; where, applying himself after the family retired to rest, he soon found means to produce both melody and harmony.
Source: tatoeba (12206387)
Though more thoughtful than Madame de Mercœur, yet it asked far more knowledge of society—that wilderness of small intricacies—for her to penetrate into the motives of those who seemed so suddenly struck with her fascination; but she was too clear-headed to be deceived, and set it all down under one general belief in caprice.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "caprice"?
Closest matches include impulse, whim, arbitrariness, arbitrary judgment, bee.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "caprice"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.