Is there any word for a person who moves frequently between two extremes in everything
Is there any word for a person who moves frequently between two extremes in everything? For example, sometimes he eats too much and sometimes too little, or sometimes won't stop talking and sometimes won't say anything—like that, moving between two extremes in everything.
single-word-requests
add a comment |
Is there any word for a person who moves frequently between two extremes in everything? For example, sometimes he eats too much and sometimes too little, or sometimes won't stop talking and sometimes won't say anything—like that, moving between two extremes in everything.
single-word-requests
1
A normal person.
– user15851
Dec 25 '14 at 12:09
2
Bipolar disorder?
– user66974
Dec 25 '14 at 12:35
add a comment |
Is there any word for a person who moves frequently between two extremes in everything? For example, sometimes he eats too much and sometimes too little, or sometimes won't stop talking and sometimes won't say anything—like that, moving between two extremes in everything.
single-word-requests
Is there any word for a person who moves frequently between two extremes in everything? For example, sometimes he eats too much and sometimes too little, or sometimes won't stop talking and sometimes won't say anything—like that, moving between two extremes in everything.
single-word-requests
single-word-requests
edited Apr 8 '15 at 1:28
Sven Yargs
111k18236494
111k18236494
asked Dec 25 '14 at 11:32
godonichia
10114
10114
1
A normal person.
– user15851
Dec 25 '14 at 12:09
2
Bipolar disorder?
– user66974
Dec 25 '14 at 12:35
add a comment |
1
A normal person.
– user15851
Dec 25 '14 at 12:09
2
Bipolar disorder?
– user66974
Dec 25 '14 at 12:35
1
1
A normal person.
– user15851
Dec 25 '14 at 12:09
A normal person.
– user15851
Dec 25 '14 at 12:09
2
2
Bipolar disorder?
– user66974
Dec 25 '14 at 12:35
Bipolar disorder?
– user66974
Dec 25 '14 at 12:35
add a comment |
9 Answers
9
active
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A good description is the idiom "She runs hot and cold," (which indicates extremes of mood and behavior.)
add a comment |
all-or-nothing [awl-er-nuhth-ing] adjective -dictionary.com
- not allowing for qualification or compromise; either fully or not at all operative: an all-or-nothing approach.
Having asked myself this question, I've found that the acronym AON hasn't really caught on yet...
I'm an aon: a real, all-or-nothing kinda guy. I will haz cake and eat it too, or I don't want any at all.
add a comment |
I'd suggest:
"Mercurial", which Merriam-Webster defines as "characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood".
"Capricious", which Merriam-Webster defines as "changing often and quickly; especially : often changing suddenly in mood or behavior".
"Volatile", which Merriam-Webster defines as "likely to change in a very sudden or extreme way".
(Edited to add attributed definitions, in accordance with commenter recommendations, and to remove "inconstant", which someone else already mentioned.)
1
I'd say this would be a decent answer (set), if supported by suitable dictionary definitions (attributed, of course).
– Edwin Ashworth
Jul 14 '15 at 9:56
add a comment |
"A person of extremes"
extreme - (noun) "either one of two opposite conditions, feelings, positions, etc., that are thought of as being far from what is normal or reasonable" Merriam-Webster
"Physically he was a person of extremes." Factual Nonsense
"Those who have known me have always chided me for being a person of extremes." Project Bible Truth
"It is said that Gaudi was motivated by architecture...He was a person of extremes." Styles of Organizing
You might also use one of the adjectives: unbalanced, unstable, inconsistent, inconstant, but these do not necessarily mean moving from one extreme to the other.
add a comment |
John Farmer & William Henley, Slang & Its Analogues (1904) offers this saying to describe a person who tends to be very pleasant or very unpleasant:
He is all honey, or all turd.
A much older version of the expression appears in Francis Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1788), describing a relationship that alternates between extremes of lovey-dovey bliss and unrepressed rage was
It is all honey or all t——d with them ; said of persons who are either in the extremity of friendship or enmity, either kissing or fighting.
On the single-word front, one option is oscillator, which Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary (2003) conveniently defines as "one that oscillates." The Eleventh Collegiate does better in offering a relevant definition of oscillate:
oscillate vi (1726) ... 2 : to vary between opposing beliefs, feelings, or theories
and it offers these relevant definitions of oscillation:
oscillation n (1658) ... 1 : the action or state of oscillating 2 : VARIATION, FLUCTUATION ... 4 : a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
add a comment |
I think the act of doing so is to vacillate.
From Merriam-Webster:
vacillate: to repeatedly change your opinions or desires
And so one who does that is vacillating or a vacillator. There isn't a great adjective form though; he is a vacillative guy is probably a stretch.
add a comment |
How about unreliable? This is in the sense of a person who lacks character and their behavior is difficult to predict in all situations?
add a comment |
Sounds like an extremist to me. ;)
add a comment |
I had a similar question to the op, came up with binary.
New contributor
add a comment |
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9 Answers
9
active
oldest
votes
9 Answers
9
active
oldest
votes
active
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A good description is the idiom "She runs hot and cold," (which indicates extremes of mood and behavior.)
add a comment |
A good description is the idiom "She runs hot and cold," (which indicates extremes of mood and behavior.)
add a comment |
A good description is the idiom "She runs hot and cold," (which indicates extremes of mood and behavior.)
A good description is the idiom "She runs hot and cold," (which indicates extremes of mood and behavior.)
answered Dec 25 '14 at 13:08
Oldbag
12k1337
12k1337
add a comment |
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all-or-nothing [awl-er-nuhth-ing] adjective -dictionary.com
- not allowing for qualification or compromise; either fully or not at all operative: an all-or-nothing approach.
Having asked myself this question, I've found that the acronym AON hasn't really caught on yet...
I'm an aon: a real, all-or-nothing kinda guy. I will haz cake and eat it too, or I don't want any at all.
add a comment |
all-or-nothing [awl-er-nuhth-ing] adjective -dictionary.com
- not allowing for qualification or compromise; either fully or not at all operative: an all-or-nothing approach.
Having asked myself this question, I've found that the acronym AON hasn't really caught on yet...
I'm an aon: a real, all-or-nothing kinda guy. I will haz cake and eat it too, or I don't want any at all.
add a comment |
all-or-nothing [awl-er-nuhth-ing] adjective -dictionary.com
- not allowing for qualification or compromise; either fully or not at all operative: an all-or-nothing approach.
Having asked myself this question, I've found that the acronym AON hasn't really caught on yet...
I'm an aon: a real, all-or-nothing kinda guy. I will haz cake and eat it too, or I don't want any at all.
all-or-nothing [awl-er-nuhth-ing] adjective -dictionary.com
- not allowing for qualification or compromise; either fully or not at all operative: an all-or-nothing approach.
Having asked myself this question, I've found that the acronym AON hasn't really caught on yet...
I'm an aon: a real, all-or-nothing kinda guy. I will haz cake and eat it too, or I don't want any at all.
answered Apr 8 '15 at 4:25
Mazura
8,05932149
8,05932149
add a comment |
add a comment |
I'd suggest:
"Mercurial", which Merriam-Webster defines as "characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood".
"Capricious", which Merriam-Webster defines as "changing often and quickly; especially : often changing suddenly in mood or behavior".
"Volatile", which Merriam-Webster defines as "likely to change in a very sudden or extreme way".
(Edited to add attributed definitions, in accordance with commenter recommendations, and to remove "inconstant", which someone else already mentioned.)
1
I'd say this would be a decent answer (set), if supported by suitable dictionary definitions (attributed, of course).
– Edwin Ashworth
Jul 14 '15 at 9:56
add a comment |
I'd suggest:
"Mercurial", which Merriam-Webster defines as "characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood".
"Capricious", which Merriam-Webster defines as "changing often and quickly; especially : often changing suddenly in mood or behavior".
"Volatile", which Merriam-Webster defines as "likely to change in a very sudden or extreme way".
(Edited to add attributed definitions, in accordance with commenter recommendations, and to remove "inconstant", which someone else already mentioned.)
1
I'd say this would be a decent answer (set), if supported by suitable dictionary definitions (attributed, of course).
– Edwin Ashworth
Jul 14 '15 at 9:56
add a comment |
I'd suggest:
"Mercurial", which Merriam-Webster defines as "characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood".
"Capricious", which Merriam-Webster defines as "changing often and quickly; especially : often changing suddenly in mood or behavior".
"Volatile", which Merriam-Webster defines as "likely to change in a very sudden or extreme way".
(Edited to add attributed definitions, in accordance with commenter recommendations, and to remove "inconstant", which someone else already mentioned.)
I'd suggest:
"Mercurial", which Merriam-Webster defines as "characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood".
"Capricious", which Merriam-Webster defines as "changing often and quickly; especially : often changing suddenly in mood or behavior".
"Volatile", which Merriam-Webster defines as "likely to change in a very sudden or extreme way".
(Edited to add attributed definitions, in accordance with commenter recommendations, and to remove "inconstant", which someone else already mentioned.)
edited Jul 14 '15 at 12:49
answered Jul 13 '15 at 21:10
Doug Warren
10.4k22038
10.4k22038
1
I'd say this would be a decent answer (set), if supported by suitable dictionary definitions (attributed, of course).
– Edwin Ashworth
Jul 14 '15 at 9:56
add a comment |
1
I'd say this would be a decent answer (set), if supported by suitable dictionary definitions (attributed, of course).
– Edwin Ashworth
Jul 14 '15 at 9:56
1
1
I'd say this would be a decent answer (set), if supported by suitable dictionary definitions (attributed, of course).
– Edwin Ashworth
Jul 14 '15 at 9:56
I'd say this would be a decent answer (set), if supported by suitable dictionary definitions (attributed, of course).
– Edwin Ashworth
Jul 14 '15 at 9:56
add a comment |
"A person of extremes"
extreme - (noun) "either one of two opposite conditions, feelings, positions, etc., that are thought of as being far from what is normal or reasonable" Merriam-Webster
"Physically he was a person of extremes." Factual Nonsense
"Those who have known me have always chided me for being a person of extremes." Project Bible Truth
"It is said that Gaudi was motivated by architecture...He was a person of extremes." Styles of Organizing
You might also use one of the adjectives: unbalanced, unstable, inconsistent, inconstant, but these do not necessarily mean moving from one extreme to the other.
add a comment |
"A person of extremes"
extreme - (noun) "either one of two opposite conditions, feelings, positions, etc., that are thought of as being far from what is normal or reasonable" Merriam-Webster
"Physically he was a person of extremes." Factual Nonsense
"Those who have known me have always chided me for being a person of extremes." Project Bible Truth
"It is said that Gaudi was motivated by architecture...He was a person of extremes." Styles of Organizing
You might also use one of the adjectives: unbalanced, unstable, inconsistent, inconstant, but these do not necessarily mean moving from one extreme to the other.
add a comment |
"A person of extremes"
extreme - (noun) "either one of two opposite conditions, feelings, positions, etc., that are thought of as being far from what is normal or reasonable" Merriam-Webster
"Physically he was a person of extremes." Factual Nonsense
"Those who have known me have always chided me for being a person of extremes." Project Bible Truth
"It is said that Gaudi was motivated by architecture...He was a person of extremes." Styles of Organizing
You might also use one of the adjectives: unbalanced, unstable, inconsistent, inconstant, but these do not necessarily mean moving from one extreme to the other.
"A person of extremes"
extreme - (noun) "either one of two opposite conditions, feelings, positions, etc., that are thought of as being far from what is normal or reasonable" Merriam-Webster
"Physically he was a person of extremes." Factual Nonsense
"Those who have known me have always chided me for being a person of extremes." Project Bible Truth
"It is said that Gaudi was motivated by architecture...He was a person of extremes." Styles of Organizing
You might also use one of the adjectives: unbalanced, unstable, inconsistent, inconstant, but these do not necessarily mean moving from one extreme to the other.
edited Dec 25 '14 at 12:00
answered Dec 25 '14 at 11:52
Centaurus
37.9k28121243
37.9k28121243
add a comment |
add a comment |
John Farmer & William Henley, Slang & Its Analogues (1904) offers this saying to describe a person who tends to be very pleasant or very unpleasant:
He is all honey, or all turd.
A much older version of the expression appears in Francis Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1788), describing a relationship that alternates between extremes of lovey-dovey bliss and unrepressed rage was
It is all honey or all t——d with them ; said of persons who are either in the extremity of friendship or enmity, either kissing or fighting.
On the single-word front, one option is oscillator, which Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary (2003) conveniently defines as "one that oscillates." The Eleventh Collegiate does better in offering a relevant definition of oscillate:
oscillate vi (1726) ... 2 : to vary between opposing beliefs, feelings, or theories
and it offers these relevant definitions of oscillation:
oscillation n (1658) ... 1 : the action or state of oscillating 2 : VARIATION, FLUCTUATION ... 4 : a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
add a comment |
John Farmer & William Henley, Slang & Its Analogues (1904) offers this saying to describe a person who tends to be very pleasant or very unpleasant:
He is all honey, or all turd.
A much older version of the expression appears in Francis Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1788), describing a relationship that alternates between extremes of lovey-dovey bliss and unrepressed rage was
It is all honey or all t——d with them ; said of persons who are either in the extremity of friendship or enmity, either kissing or fighting.
On the single-word front, one option is oscillator, which Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary (2003) conveniently defines as "one that oscillates." The Eleventh Collegiate does better in offering a relevant definition of oscillate:
oscillate vi (1726) ... 2 : to vary between opposing beliefs, feelings, or theories
and it offers these relevant definitions of oscillation:
oscillation n (1658) ... 1 : the action or state of oscillating 2 : VARIATION, FLUCTUATION ... 4 : a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
add a comment |
John Farmer & William Henley, Slang & Its Analogues (1904) offers this saying to describe a person who tends to be very pleasant or very unpleasant:
He is all honey, or all turd.
A much older version of the expression appears in Francis Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1788), describing a relationship that alternates between extremes of lovey-dovey bliss and unrepressed rage was
It is all honey or all t——d with them ; said of persons who are either in the extremity of friendship or enmity, either kissing or fighting.
On the single-word front, one option is oscillator, which Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary (2003) conveniently defines as "one that oscillates." The Eleventh Collegiate does better in offering a relevant definition of oscillate:
oscillate vi (1726) ... 2 : to vary between opposing beliefs, feelings, or theories
and it offers these relevant definitions of oscillation:
oscillation n (1658) ... 1 : the action or state of oscillating 2 : VARIATION, FLUCTUATION ... 4 : a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
John Farmer & William Henley, Slang & Its Analogues (1904) offers this saying to describe a person who tends to be very pleasant or very unpleasant:
He is all honey, or all turd.
A much older version of the expression appears in Francis Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1788), describing a relationship that alternates between extremes of lovey-dovey bliss and unrepressed rage was
It is all honey or all t——d with them ; said of persons who are either in the extremity of friendship or enmity, either kissing or fighting.
On the single-word front, one option is oscillator, which Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary (2003) conveniently defines as "one that oscillates." The Eleventh Collegiate does better in offering a relevant definition of oscillate:
oscillate vi (1726) ... 2 : to vary between opposing beliefs, feelings, or theories
and it offers these relevant definitions of oscillation:
oscillation n (1658) ... 1 : the action or state of oscillating 2 : VARIATION, FLUCTUATION ... 4 : a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
edited Jul 13 '15 at 23:12
answered Apr 8 '15 at 1:38
Sven Yargs
111k18236494
111k18236494
add a comment |
add a comment |
I think the act of doing so is to vacillate.
From Merriam-Webster:
vacillate: to repeatedly change your opinions or desires
And so one who does that is vacillating or a vacillator. There isn't a great adjective form though; he is a vacillative guy is probably a stretch.
add a comment |
I think the act of doing so is to vacillate.
From Merriam-Webster:
vacillate: to repeatedly change your opinions or desires
And so one who does that is vacillating or a vacillator. There isn't a great adjective form though; he is a vacillative guy is probably a stretch.
add a comment |
I think the act of doing so is to vacillate.
From Merriam-Webster:
vacillate: to repeatedly change your opinions or desires
And so one who does that is vacillating or a vacillator. There isn't a great adjective form though; he is a vacillative guy is probably a stretch.
I think the act of doing so is to vacillate.
From Merriam-Webster:
vacillate: to repeatedly change your opinions or desires
And so one who does that is vacillating or a vacillator. There isn't a great adjective form though; he is a vacillative guy is probably a stretch.
answered Jul 13 '15 at 21:22
Chris Subagio
2,0991613
2,0991613
add a comment |
add a comment |
How about unreliable? This is in the sense of a person who lacks character and their behavior is difficult to predict in all situations?
add a comment |
How about unreliable? This is in the sense of a person who lacks character and their behavior is difficult to predict in all situations?
add a comment |
How about unreliable? This is in the sense of a person who lacks character and their behavior is difficult to predict in all situations?
How about unreliable? This is in the sense of a person who lacks character and their behavior is difficult to predict in all situations?
answered Jul 13 '15 at 21:43
Sun
20017
20017
add a comment |
add a comment |
Sounds like an extremist to me. ;)
add a comment |
Sounds like an extremist to me. ;)
add a comment |
Sounds like an extremist to me. ;)
Sounds like an extremist to me. ;)
answered Jul 14 '15 at 1:20
David Blomstrom
6,57521632
6,57521632
add a comment |
add a comment |
I had a similar question to the op, came up with binary.
New contributor
add a comment |
I had a similar question to the op, came up with binary.
New contributor
add a comment |
I had a similar question to the op, came up with binary.
New contributor
I had a similar question to the op, came up with binary.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 2 hours ago
adrian cronin
1
1
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
A normal person.
– user15851
Dec 25 '14 at 12:09
2
Bipolar disorder?
– user66974
Dec 25 '14 at 12:35