What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fickle
Example
She's so fickle, she can never make up her mind. [fickle: adjective]
Example
The weather in this region is notoriously fickle, changing from sunny to rainy in a matter of minutes. [fickle: adjective]
mercurial
Example
He's known for his mercurial temperament, sometimes happy and sometimes angry for no apparent reason. [mercurial: adjective]
Example
The stock market can be quite mercurial, with prices rising and falling rapidly and unexpectedly. [mercurial: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fickle is a more common word than mercurial in everyday language. Fickle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mercurial is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between fickle and mercurial?
Both fickle and mercurial are relatively formal words, but mercurial may be perceived as more sophisticated due to its Latin origin and less frequent usage.
