given to unpredictable changes of mood; temperamental or sulky
From mood + -y suffix, first recorded in 1590s, from Old English mod 'heart, mind, spirit'
The word 'moody' has shifted from describing someone brave or spirited to someone whose emotions are unpredictable - quite a journey for one little word!
Gendered stereotype associating emotional variability with femininity and diminished competence, particularly applied pejoratively to women in professional contexts
Use 'variable emotional state' or 'fluctuating' when describing mood changes; avoid weaponizing emotional expression against any gender
["emotionally fluctuating","variable in temperament"]
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