Fickle
/ˈfɪkəl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Fickle means not steady or constant in feelings or choices. A fickle person might like one thing today but dislike it the next. It often describes people who change their minds or loyalties easily, making them unpredictable.
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See It in Action
Changing feelings or loyalties quickly and often
- •She is so fickle that she changes her favorite singer every week.
- •The fickle weather made it hard to plan a picnic.
- •His fickle support made people unsure if they could trust him.
Unpredictable or not reliable because of frequent changes
- •The stock market is fickle and can go up or down without warning.
- •Their fickle friendship ended when they stopped trusting each other.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "fickle" like "change," but only for feelings or decisions that switch often and suddenly, not slow or planned changes
- ✓Picture a small boat on water that moves quickly from side to side because of every little wave—always changing direction
- ✓It's the feeling when a friend says they love a movie one day but hate it the next, making you unsure what they really think
- ✓Sounds like "FICK-el" → imagine a quick flick of a finger changing something fast and again and again
- ✓Think of weather that changes quickly from sun to rain—this quick change is like being fickle with feelings
- ✓NOT like "steady" (which means stable and does not change), fickle is the opposite—unstable and always moving
- ✓NOT like "decide" (a clear choice), fickle means changing decisions often, without clear reasons
- ✓NOT like "slow change" (like growing or learning), fickle is fast and unpredictable change in opinions or feelings
Try Other Words
- •Unpredictable: not able to be guessed or expected (Use when focusing on the surprise or uncertainty of changes)
- •Inconstant: not staying the same, often changing (Use in formal or literary contexts about feelings or behavior)
- •Changeable: able to change often (Use for moods, weather, or situations that vary frequently)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix) — "fickle" is a simple adjective
- •Etymology: From Old English "ficol," meaning deceitful or false, later meaning changeable or unreliable
- •Historical development: Used since the 1300s to describe people or things that are not firm or steady
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe people’s moods, feelings, or loyalty that change quickly and unpredictably
Reflect & Connect
•Can being fickle sometimes be a good thing? When might changing your mind quickly help you?
•How do you feel when someone important to you is fickle? Does it affect trust?
Fill in the blanks
1.She is fickle because she ___ her favorite colors every month without a clear reason.
2.When the weather is fickle, you must ___ for sudden rain or sun.
3.Unlike a loyal friend, a fickle friend might ___ their support at any time.
4.He shrugged off the problem, showing his ___ attitude toward the situation.
5.People say the stock market is fickle because prices ___ very quickly and without warning.
6.You can describe someone as fickle if they often ___ their opinions after hearing new ideas.
7.A fickle person usually finds it hard to make ___ decisions because they change their mind too fast.