Mercurial: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Mercurial adjective. Prone to quick, unpredictable changes of mood.
How to say it
mur-KYOOR-ee-ul/mɜːˈkjʊəriəl/
4 syllables, stressed on the second (KYOOR).
Mercurial in a sentence
The mercurial director could be charming at breakfast and furious by lunch.
His mercurial talent made him thrilling to watch and impossible to manage.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- volatile
- capricious
- fickle
- temperamental
Opposite:
- stable
- steady
Where mercurial comes from
From Latin Mercurius, Mercury, the quick messenger god, whose planet was thought to make people lively.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
His _____ talent made him thrilling to watch and impossible to manage.
- mercurial
- pious
- brash
Show the answer
mercurial: His mercurial talent made him thrilling to watch and impossible to manage.