as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
the boss's mood is so mercurial that we never know how he's going to react to anything
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Recent Examples of mercurial
Layoffs and firings have sometimes felt more mercurial than anything else.
—
Patrick George, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
After months of talking up the prospects for diplomacy with Iran (and years of bemoaning past American military failures in the Middle East), the famously mercurial Trump seemed to have embraced a more hawkish view.
—Reid Smith, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025
In Pursuit of Beauty couldn’t help but be influenced by my day job as a journalist at THR, whether in my complicated encounters with mercurial, larger-than-life subjects not unlike my doctor protagonist (Heidi Fleiss, Angelyne) or else through other socio-anthropological reporting ventures.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
This backdrop of tariffs and conflict could well give rise to fireworks at the June summit in Canada, given Trump’s often contrarian and mercurial nature, analysts say.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mercurial
Patrick George, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
After months of talking up the prospects for diplomacy with Iran (and years of bemoaning past American military failures in the Middle East), the famously mercurial Trump seemed to have embraced a more hawkish view.
—Reid Smith, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025
In Pursuit of Beauty couldn’t help but be influenced by my day job as a journalist at THR, whether in my complicated encounters with mercurial, larger-than-life subjects not unlike my doctor protagonist (Heidi Fleiss, Angelyne) or else through other socio-anthropological reporting ventures.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
This backdrop of tariffs and conflict could well give rise to fireworks at the June summit in Canada, given Trump’s often contrarian and mercurial nature, analysts say.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mercurial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercurial
Adjective
-
But David’s volatile behavior, which includes smashing a glass coffee table to pieces in front of the other children, quickly turns them into unwelcome guests.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
10 July 2025
-
Whether or not all these pricing updates are related to tariffs is unclear, but the volatile trade war has brought uncertainty.—
Julian Chokkattu,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Unlike cheaper rebounders that can feel stiff or unpredictable, this one stays sturdy and responsive.—
Jordan Galloway,
SELF,
15 July 2025
-
Not pleased by the unpredictable nature of MP stock?—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mercurial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercurial. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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