arbitrary | Definition of arbitrary

Synonyms and Antonyms of arbitrary

1 having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity

an arbitrary piano teacher who makes all her students do the same exercises over and over again

Synonyms of arbitrary

dictatorial, high-handed, imperious, peremptory, willful (or wilful)

Words Related to arbitrary

arrogant, commanding, demanding, dominant, domineering, haughty, imperative, lordly, masterful, overbearing, presumptuous

authoritarian, autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, totalitarian, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous

capricious, changeable, erratic, inconsistent, mercurial, whimsical

biased, inequitable, partisan, prejudiced, unequal, unfair, unjust, unrealistic, unreasonable

unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous

Near Antonyms of arbitrary

balanced, disinterested, dispassionate, equal, equitable, evenhanded, fair, impartial, just, nonpartisan, objective

rational, reasonable, understanding

unbiased, unprejudiced

ethical, honorable, irreproachable, law-abiding, moral, principled, unimpeachable

2 lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern

the order of the names of the 10 semifinalists is entirely arbitrary

Synonyms of arbitrary

aimless, catch-as-catch-can, desultory, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, random, scattered, slapdash, stray

Words Related to arbitrary

accidental, casual, chance, chancy, contingent, fluky (also flukey), fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, lucky, unconsidered, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated

scattershot, shotgun

irregular, odd, sporadic, spot

directionless, objectless, purposeless

indiscriminate, unsystematic

disorderly, disorganized

undiscriminating, unselective

Near Antonyms of arbitrary

established, fixed, regular, set, stable, steady

constant, continuous, even

arranged, managed, orchestrated, ordered, planned

aware, conscious, deliberate, purposeful, thoughtful, willful (or wilful)

Antonyms of arbitrary

methodical (also methodic), nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized

3 exercising power or authority without interference by others

a nation with no tradition of democracy, only a long history of arbitrary rulers

Synonyms of arbitrary

absolute, autocratic (also autocratical), czarist (also tsarist), despotic, dictatorial, monocratic, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous

Words Related to arbitrary

authoritarian, jackbooted, oppressive, totalitarian

antidemocratic, antirepublican