caprice

This term describes a whim that is sudden and often illogical, carrying a connotation of instability or unpredictability. It suggests a lack of steady purpose, where a decision is made on a momentary impulse rather than through deliberation. When applied to a person's character, it implies a volatile temperament. In professional or social hierarchies, it often evokes a sense of anxiety for those subject to the unpredictable desires of a superior.