fickle
/fĭk′əl/
verb
- (transitive) To deceive; flatter.
- (transitive) To puzzle; perplex; nonplus.
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › fickle
FICKLE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
2 weeks ago - The meaning of FICKLE is marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability : given to erratic changeableness. How to use fickle in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Fickle.
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › fickle
FICKLE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
3 days ago - FICKLE meaning: 1. likely to change your opinion or your feelings suddenly and without a good reason: 2. Fickle…. Learn more.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/englishlearning › american definition of the word fickle
r/EnglishLearning on Reddit: American definition of the word fickle
January 10, 2023 -
I am working to master the American English language. Recently I came across a new word, fickle. The word fickle defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary is "marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability". Simple enough. However, when you add a noun and/or a preposition then the phrase seems to take on another meaning that I don't quite get. A few examples:
Money is a fickle thing.
The fickle wind.
A fickle fortune.
Fickle love.
Fickle in love.
I will try to define each of these examples, and you tell me if I am close or if I need to study this word even more.
Money is a fickle thing. Meaning that money is not stable. That you can lose money really easily.
The fickle wind. Sounds like "the soft wind". Or the wind that does not feel like wind.
A fickle fortune. A fortune that is supported by questionable investments.
Fickle love. That love is weak. Or just weak love.
Fickle in love. I have no idea what this means.
Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Top answer 1 of 4
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In all of those examples, the thing being described can change. You can have a lot of money one day and then lose it all. People fall in and out of love. The wind changes directions or force.
2 of 4
3
To be fickle is to be changeable. Most things can change, but when something is fickle, sudden or unexpected change is more the rule than the exception. A fickle person changes his mind a lot. A fickle wind is a metaphor deriving from how abruptly the wind can change direction or velocity. Someone who's fickle in love changes his mind about what or who he wants, possibly often.
Videos
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What does “Fickle” mean? | Word Of The Day — English Daily ...
01:20
"FICKLE" pronounciation and meaning in English & Hindi - YouTube
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FICKLE MEANING IN ENGLISH - YouTube
- YouTube
00:24
Fickleness Meaning - YouTube
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Fickle Meaning - YouTube
Thesaurus.com
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544 Synonyms & Antonyms for FICKLE | Thesaurus.com
“A bunch got signed, but you know, fame is a fickle thing, and you never know what might get played on the radio.” ... That inevitably means she needs to stay on top of her country’s fickle trade relationship with the U.S.
Dictionary.com
dictionary.com › browse › fickle
FICKLE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
Fickle definition: likely to change, especially due to caprice, irresolution, or instability; casually changeable.. See examples of FICKLE used in a sentence.
A Journey for Wisdom
ajourneyforwisdom.com › life-is-a-fickle-thing
Life is a fickle thing - A Journey for Wisdom
April 20, 2022 - Life is a fickle thing. It's capricious and unpredictable by nature, and it can sometimes go away without giving the slightest warning. When this happens, it can feel like a gut punch that robs you of the precious breath and tranquillity that ...
Etymonline
etymonline.com › word › fickle
Fickle - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
Sense of "changeable, inconstant, unstable" is from c. 1300 (especially of Fortune and women). Related: Fickleness. Fickly (c. 1300) is rare or obsolete. Also with a verb form in Middle English, fikelen "to deceive, flatter," later "to puzzle, ...
Vocabulary.com
vocabulary.com › dictionary › fickle
Fickle - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
People who are fickle change their minds so much you can't rely on them. If your best friend suddenly decides that she doesn't like you one week, and then the next week she wants to hang out again, she's being fickle.
Wiktionary
en.wiktionary.org › wiki › fickle
fickle - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
From Middle English fikil, fikel, from Old English ficol (“fickle, cunning, tricky, deceitful”), equivalent to fike + -le.
Oxford English Dictionary
oed.com › dictionary › fickle_adj
fickle, adj. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective fickle, two of which are labelled obsolete.
Collins Dictionary
collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary › english › fickle
FICKLE definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary
If you describe someone as fickle, you disapprove of them because they keep changing their mind about what they like or want.
Published March 12, 2018
Quora
quora.com › What-is-meant-when-it-is-said-that-someone-is-fickle
What is meant when it is said that someone is fickle? - Quora
Answer: The term “fickle” means that a person is constantly changing and flipping around all over the place about their beliefs and in their behaviour. One day you could ask them if the believe this or that is acceptable and one day the ...
Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-meaning-of-fickle
What is the meaning of fickle? - Quora
Answer (1 of 7): People are often called Fickle as they tend to change their mind frequently. For example:- if they are something today and change exactly opposite the next day.
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › dictionary › fickle
Fickle Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
FICKLE meaning: 1 : changing often; 2 : changing opinions often
Wordsmyth
kids.wordsmyth.net › we
fickle | definition for kids | Wordsmyth Word Explorer Children's Dictionary; WILD dictionary K-2 | Wordsmyth
quickly changing without reason or warning, esp. in affection or allegiance; variable or capricious.... See the full definition
Reddit
reddit.com › r/words › what connotations does "fickle" have for you?
r/words on Reddit: What connotations does "fickle" have for you?
January 8, 2019 -
Can you give a few specific examples if possible?
Top answer 1 of 5
3
I usually picture a girl who changes her mind a lot about who she’s into. Helen of Troy comes to mind.
2 of 5
1
Without looking at the dictionary definition, "fickle" is a negative word that describes ones decision-making process as close to flipping a coin, or to describe someone/something just as likely to hurt you as help you. "Fickle finger of fate". But it doesn't imply fairness or impartiality, kind of the opposite.
Longman
ldoceonline.com › dictionary › fickle
fickle | meaning of fickle in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishficklefick‧le /ˈfɪkəl/ adjective 1 CHANGE YOUR MINDsomeone who is fickle is always changing their mind about people or things that they like, so that you cannot depend on them – used to show disapproval OPP faithful an unpredictable and ...
Urban Dictionary
urbandictionary.com › define.php
Urban Dictionary: fickle
fickle: likely to change your opinion or your feelings suddenly and without a good reason
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › fickle
FICKLE Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
While all these words mean "lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion)," fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness.