Changing frequently, especially in loyalties, interests, or affection; not constant or loyal. Liable to sudden unpredictable changes in attitude or behavior.
From Old English ficol, meaning 'deceitful' or 'treacherous,' related to befician (to deceive). The word originally described deliberate deception but evolved to describe changeable behavior that may not be intentionally deceptive but is unreliable nonetheless.
Think of 'fickle' as 'flick-le' - like someone constantly flicking a light switch on and off! Fickle people change their minds as often as you flick through TV channels, never settling on one choice for long.
Historically feminized as a character flaw; women were stereotyped as 'fickle' to deny their credibility and rationality, especially in contexts of changing minds or preferences.
Use to describe inconsistent behavior in anyone without gendered framing. Avoid implying the trait is more common in or inherent to any gender.
["inconsistent","changeable","variable","unreliable"]
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