Synonyms for arbitrary
- adjective
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Capricious
capricious, absolute, high-handed, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, tyrannical, fanciful, autocratic, unstable, whimsical, peremptory, imperious, overbearing, authoritative, bossy, masterful, tyrannous, oppressive, authoritarian, dogmatic, arrogant
2. Discretionary
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.
Benjamin Franklin's designation of "positive" and "negative" to different charges was arbitrary.
- adj. 2
Determined by impulse rather than reason; often connoting heavy-handedness.
Related words
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Autocratic power knows no limits outside the ruler's self; arbitrary power, none outside the ruler's will or judgment, arbitrary carrying the implication of wilfulness and capriciousness.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- absolute It's an absolute waste of time to wait any longer.
- capricious Everyone is entitled to be capricious now and then.
- despotic The administrators of that forum are very despotic.
- unrestrained I don't think the rich should be unrestrained.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| arbitrary | falling | |
| absolute | steady | |
| capricious | falling | |
| despotic | steady | |
| unrestrained | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- bossy2
- 8 letters
- absolute3, unstable3, optional3, arrogant3, fanciful3, dogmatic3, despotic3
- 9 letters
- voluntary4, whimsical3, masterful3, imperious4, tyrannous
- 10 letters
- oppressive3, tyrannical4, autocratic4, capricious3, peremptory4
- 11 letters
- dictatorial5, overbearing4, domineering4
- 12 letters
- unrestrained3, discretional
- 13 letters
- authoritarian6, authoritative5, discretionary5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (bossy2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- arbitraire
- Italiano
- arbitrario
- Español
- arbitrario
- Deutsch
- beliebig
- Català
- arbitrari