Mercurial Definition

Rosetta Carter 19 Mar 2026

Late middle english (in mercurial (sense 3 of the adjective)) Volatile, unpredictable, unstable, changeful, inconsistent, variable, temperamental, fickle From latin mercurialis ‘relating to the god mercury’, from mercurius ‘mercury’

Mercurial Definition, Meaning & Usage | FineDictionary.com

Mercurial (sense 1 of the adjective) dates from the mid 17th century. How to use mercurial in a sentence The adjective mercurial comes from the latin mercurialis, meaning “of or relating to mercury.”

See examples of mercurial used in a sentence.

Medical specialized containing or caused by mercury Mercurial drugs (definition of mercurial from the cambridge advanced learner's dictionary & thesaurus © cambridge university press) Mercurial describes someone whose mood or behavior is changeable and unpredictable, or someone who is clever, lively, and quick With a mercurial teacher, you never know where you stand.

If you describe someone as mercurial, you mean that they frequently change their mind or mood without warning. Pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury (cap.) of or pertaining to the god mercury. Definition of mercurial adjective in oxford advanced learner's dictionary

MERCURIAL - Definition & Meaning - Reverso English Dictionary

Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the oxford english dictionary Having the characteristics of eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, and thievishness attributed to the god mercury. Over time, 'mercurial' came to describe individuals or things characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes in mood, temperament, or behavior, emphasizing their volatility and unpredictability, much like the swift and changeable nature attributed to the god mercury. This page covers its appearance in guardian cryptic on 11th mar 2026

You can reveal the answer at your pace — one letter at a time or the whole word in one go We also provide helpful extras where available Changing moods quickly and often used to describe someone who often changes from being happy to being angry or upset in a quick and unexpected way Mercurial (plural mercurials) (obsolete) any of the plants known as mercury, especially the annual mercury or french mercury (mercurialis annua)

About – Mercurial – Medium

Hence, a person having an eloquent, quickwitted, furtive, or volatile character

Visit the english only forum Ask in the forums yourself. Definition of mercurial adjective in oxford advanced american dictionary Explore the meaning of mercurial, how to use it in sentences, and why it’s a great word to describe unpredictable personalities or rapid changes in mood.

Pertaining to or under the influence of the planet mercury, from latin mercurialis,… see origin and meaning of mercurial. Learn the meaning of mercurial with clear definitions and helpful usage examples. Of, like, containing, or relating to mercury 2 Of, like, or relating to the god or the planet.click for more definitions.