Which word best describes a mood that is unpredictable and capricious?

• A. Volatile
• B. Zeal
• C. Whimsical
• D. Waver

Answer: (C)

Understanding subtle shades of meaning in mood descriptors helps you pick a word that captures both unpredictability and capriciousness. Whimsical best fits because it describes moods or actions driven by fanciful, sudden impulses—unpredictable in a playful, lighthearted way. That sense of changing moods on a whim aligns directly with capriciousness. Volatile suggests explosive or unstable intensity, which is a stronger, more dangerous kind of unpredictability and not specifically about mood. Waver is about hesitating or fluctuating in decision, not about a mood described as such. Zeal denotes enthusiastic fervor, which is the opposite of an unstable, capricious mood.