What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mercurial
Example
Her mercurial personality made it hard to know how she would react in any given situation. [mercurial: adjective]
Example
The stock market can be mercurial, with prices fluctuating rapidly. [mercurial: adjective]
erratic
Example
His erratic driving made me nervous. [erratic: adjective]
Example
The weather has been very erratic lately, with sudden storms and temperature changes. [erratic: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Erratic is more commonly used than mercurial in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mercurial and erratic?
Both mercurial and erratic are relatively formal words, but mercurial may be slightly more formal due to its less common usage.
