changeableness

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

Variability

Nouns

1. changeableness, alterability; mutability, variability; inconstancy, fickleness; inconsistency; versatility; instability, vacillation, irresolution; eccentricity, flightiness, moodiness; fluctuation, fluidity, alternation (See oscillation); restlessness, unrest; agitation; iridescence. See irregularity, doubt.

2. (something changeable) moon, Proteus, Cheshire cat, chameleon, quicksilver, mercury, shifting sands, weathervane, kaleidoscope, harlequin, Cynthia of the minute, April showers, phases of the moon; wheel of fortune, musical chairs; flibbertigibbet; double-dealer, tergiversator; fair-weather friend. See transientness.

3. caprice, whimsy, vagary, notion, coquetry, fad; capriciousness.

Verbs — fluctuate, flitter, shuffle, vacillate, turn and turn about, ring the changes; sway or shift to and fro; change one's mind, play fast and loose, play the field; change horses in midstream, play musical chairs; blow hot and cold, oscillate; have as many phases as the moon, chop and change. See change.

Adjectives — changeable, changeful; changing; alterable, mutable, movable, variable; kaleidoscopic, ever-changing, protean; versatile; inconstant, unsteady, unstable, unfixed, unsettled, adrift; fluctuating, restless, agitated; erratic, fickle, shifty; irresolute, capricious, whimsical; volatile, desultory, mercurial; touch-and-go; fitful, roving, wayward; alternating; transient; iridescent, chatoyant; blowing hot and cold; convertible, modifiable.

Adverbs — seesaw; off and on; off again, on again; back and forth.

Phrases — a rolling stone gathers no moss; there is nothing constant but inconstance.

Quotations — Fickle and changeable always is woman (Virgil).

Antonyms, See stability.