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Arbitrary synonyms

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willful
Done in a manner which was intended.
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  1. Done in a manner which was intended.
  2. In criminal law, an act done stubbornly or with an evil intent.
  3. Said or done on purpose; deliberate:
capricious
Characterized by, arising from, or subject to caprice; impulsive or unpredictable:
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  1. Characterized by, arising from, or subject to caprice; impulsive or unpredictable:
  2. Characterized by or resulting from caprice, inconsistency in feeling or purpose, a whim, or an unpredictable or impulsive behavior. See also arbitrary.
  3. Subject to caprices; tending to change abruptly and without apparent reason; erratic; flighty
frivolous
Not properly serious or sensible; silly and light-minded; giddy
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  1. Not properly serious or sensible; silly and light-minded; giddy
  2. Of a claim or assertion in litigation, that it lacks merit or substance; often a pejorative term, implying bad faith or negligence by the pleading party. Of a claim or assertion in litigation, that it lacks merit or substance; often a pejorative term, implying bad faith or negligence by the pleading party.
  3. Having no basis in law because of the lack of sound legal arguments, facts, etc. or not brought to court in good faith
injudicious
Showing poor judgement; not well judged.
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  1. Showing poor judgement; not well judged.
  2. Showing poor judgment; not discreet or wise
wayward
Difficult or impossible to manage, control, or keep in order:
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  1. Difficult or impossible to manage, control, or keep in order:
  2. Conforming to no fixed rule or pattern; unpredictable; irregular; capricious; erratic
  3. Deviating from what is desired, expected, or required, especially in being disobedient or in gratifying one's own inclinations:
offhand
Curt, abrupt, unfriendly
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  1. Curt, abrupt, unfriendly
  2. Performed or expressed without preparation or forethought:
  3. Careless; without sufficient thought or consideration
erratic
Having no fixed or regular course; wandering:
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  1. Having no fixed or regular course; wandering:
  2. Deviating from the customary course in conduct or opinion; eccentric:
  3. Lacking consistency, regularity, or uniformity:
impulsive
(Physics) Acting within brief time intervals. Used especially of a force.
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  1. (Physics) Acting within brief time intervals. Used especially of a force.
  2. (Mech.) Acting briefly and as a result of impulse
  3. Inclined to act on impulse rather than thought.
inconsistent
Not always holding to the same principles or practice; changeable
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  1. Not always holding to the same principles or practice; changeable
  2. Not regular or predictable; erratic:
  3. Lacking in correct logical relation; contradictory:
crotchety
Cantankerous or eccentric
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  1. Cantankerous or eccentric
  2. Capriciously stubborn or eccentric; perverse.
  3. Cranky, disagreeable, or stubborn, especially if prone to odd whims or fancies.
irresponsible
Not responsible; not subject to responsibility; not to be held accountable, or called into question.
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  1. Not responsible; not subject to responsibility; not to be held accountable, or called into question.
  2. Said or done as by an irresponsible person
  3. Marked by a lack of responsibility:
opinionated
Holding unreasonably or obstinately to one's own opinions
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  1. Holding unreasonably or obstinately to one's own opinions
  2. Having very strong opinions.
  3. Holding stubbornly and often unreasonably to one's own opinions.
supercilious
Disdainful or contemptuous; full of or characterized by pride or scorn; haughty
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  1. Disdainful or contemptuous; full of or characterized by pride or scorn; haughty
  2. Feeling or showing haughty disdain.
whimsical
Playful or fanciful, especially in a humorous way:
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  1. Playful or fanciful, especially in a humorous way:
  2. Given to whimsy; capricious; odd; peculiar; playful; light-hearted or amusing.
  3. Subject to sudden change; unpredictable
unreasonable
Unsupported by a valid exception to requirements of a warrant; for example, unreasonable search and seizure.
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  1. Unsupported by a valid exception to requirements of a warrant; for example, unreasonable search and seizure.
  2. Not determined by reason; capricious; arbitrary; irrational.
  3. Having or showing little sense or judgment; not rational
irrational
Being a syllable in Greek and Latin prosody whose length does not fit the metric pattern.
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  1. Being a syllable in Greek and Latin prosody whose length does not fit the metric pattern.
  2. Lacking the power to reason
  3. Marked by a lack of accord with reason or sound judgment:
toplofty
Self-important, haughty.
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  1. Self-important, haughty.
  2. Haughty; pretentious.
  3. (Informal) Lofty in manner; haughty; pompous
subjective
Relating to the real nature of something; essential.
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  1. Relating to the real nature of something; essential.
  2. (Philosophy, psychology) Experienced by a person mentally and not directly verifiable by others.
  3. Based on a given person's experience, understanding, and feelings; personal or individual:
unscientific
Not scientific
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  1. Not scientific
  2. Not knowledgeable about science or the scientific method.
unreasonable
Unsupported by a valid exception to requirements of a warrant; for example, unreasonable search and seizure.
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  1. Unsupported by a valid exception to requirements of a warrant; for example, unreasonable search and seizure.
  2. Having or showing little sense or judgment; not rational
  3. Not determined by reason; capricious; arbitrary; irrational.
unpredictable
Unable to be predicted.
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  1. Unable to be predicted.
  2. Difficult to foretell or foresee:
capricious
Characterized by, arising from, or subject to caprice; impulsive or unpredictable:
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  1. Characterized by, arising from, or subject to caprice; impulsive or unpredictable:
  2. Characterized by or resulting from caprice, inconsistency in feeling or purpose, a whim, or an unpredictable or impulsive behavior. See also arbitrary.
  3. Subject to caprices; tending to change abruptly and without apparent reason; erratic; flighty
random
Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective:
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  1. Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective:
  2. (Statistics) Of statistical sample selection in which all possible samples have equal probability of selection
  3. (Mathematics & Statistics) Of or relating to a type of circumstance or event that is described by a probability distribution.
chance
Caused by or ascribable to chance; unexpected, random, or casual:
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  1. Caused by or ascribable to chance; unexpected, random, or casual:
temporary
Lasting, enjoyed, used, etc. for a time only; not permanent
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  1. Lasting, enjoyed, used, etc. for a time only; not permanent
unpremeditated
Performed, but not planned or thought out in advance; extemporaneous, but not unintentional.
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  1. Performed, but not planned or thought out in advance; extemporaneous, but not unintentional.
  2. Not premeditated; done without plan or forethought
irrational
Being a syllable in Greek and Latin prosody whose length does not fit the metric pattern.
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  1. Being a syllable in Greek and Latin prosody whose length does not fit the metric pattern.
  2. Lacking the power to reason
  3. Marked by a lack of accord with reason or sound judgment:
unaccountable
Free from accountability; not responsible:
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  1. Free from accountability; not responsible:
  2. Impossible to account for; inexplicable:
  3. That cannot be explained or accounted for; strange; mysterious
superficial
Concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; shallow:
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  1. Concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; shallow:
  2. Not extensive or important; minor or insignificant:
  3. Concerned with and understanding only the easily apparent and obvious; not profound; shallow
whimsical
Given to whimsy; capricious; odd; peculiar; playful; light-hearted or amusing.
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  1. Given to whimsy; capricious; odd; peculiar; playful; light-hearted or amusing.
  2. Subject to sudden change; unpredictable
  3. Playful or fanciful, especially in a humorous way:
fanciful
Showing fancy in construction or design; quaint; odd
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  1. Showing fancy in construction or design; quaint; odd
  2. Imaginative or fantastic; unreal or imagined
  3. Full of fancy; indulging in fancies; imaginative in a playful way; whimsical
freakish
Having the nature of a freak; odd; peculiar
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  1. Having the nature of a freak; odd; peculiar
  2. Full of or characterized by freaks; whimsical; capricious
  3. Strange, unusual, abnormal or bizarre
optional
Not compulsory; left to personal choice; elective.
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  1. Not compulsory; left to personal choice; elective.
  2. Left to one's option, or choice; not compulsory; elective
uncertain
Not determined; undecided:
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  1. Not determined; undecided:
  2. Not yet determined; undecided.
  3. Subject to change; variable:
inconsistent
Displaying or marked by a lack of consistency, especially:
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  1. Displaying or marked by a lack of consistency, especially:
  2. Lacking in correct logical relation; contradictory:
  3. Not always holding to the same principles or practice; changeable
discretionary
Administered by a proxy
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  1. Administered by a proxy
  2. Available for use as needed or desired:
  3. Available at one's discretion; able to be used as one chooses; left to or regulated by one's own discretion or judgment.
half-baked
Having or showing little intelligence and experience
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  1. Having or showing little intelligence and experience
  2. Exhibiting a lack of good judgment or common sense:
  3. (Idiomatic, informal, frequently derisive) Incomplete; (of an idea or scheme) not fully planned or carefully considered, ill-conceived, unsound or badly thought-out; (of a person) foolish or having no common sense.
imperious
(Obsolete) Regal; imperial.
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  1. (Obsolete) Regal; imperial.
  2. Overbearing, arrogant, domineering, etc.
  3. Urgent; pressing:
dictatorial
Of or pertaining to a dictator
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  1. Of or pertaining to a dictator
  2. In the manner of a dictator, usually with callous disregard for others
  3. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a dictator or dictatorship; autocratic.
tyrannical
Harsh, cruel, unjust, oppressive, etc.
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  1. Harsh, cruel, unjust, oppressive, etc.
  2. (Comparable) Despotic, oppressive or authoritarian.
  3. Characteristic of a tyrant or tyranny; despotic and oppressive:
dogmatic
Relating to, characteristic of, or resulting from dogma.
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  1. Relating to, characteristic of, or resulting from dogma.
  2. Asserting or insisting upon ideas or principles, especially when unproven or unexamined, in an imperious or arrogant manner:
  3. Characterized by such assertion, often with an unconsidered rejection of criticism:
capricious
Characterized by, arising from, or subject to caprice; impulsive or unpredictable:
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  1. Characterized by, arising from, or subject to caprice; impulsive or unpredictable:
  2. Characterized by or resulting from caprice, inconsistency in feeling or purpose, a whim, or an unpredictable or impulsive behavior. See also arbitrary.
  3. Subject to caprices; tending to change abruptly and without apparent reason; erratic; flighty
whimsical
Characterized by, arising from, or subject to whimsy:
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  1. Characterized by, arising from, or subject to whimsy:
  2. Subject to sudden change; unpredictable
  3. Playful or fanciful, especially in a humorous way:
discretionary
Administered by a proxy
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  1. Administered by a proxy
  2. Available at one's discretion; able to be used as one chooses; left to or regulated by one's own discretion or judgment.
  3. Available for use as needed or desired:
judgmental
Of or relating to judgment.
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  1. Of or relating to judgment.
  2. Inclined to make judgments, especially moral or personal ones:
  3. (Chiefly of a person) Inclined to pass judgment, critical.
personal
Done to or for or directed toward a particular person:
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  1. Done to or for or directed toward a particular person:
  2. Of or relating to the body or physical being:
  3. (Law) Of or constituting personal property
subjective
Of, affected by, or produced by the mind or a particular state of mind; of or resulting from the feelings or temperament of the subject, or person thinking; not objective; personal
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  1. Of, affected by, or produced by the mind or a particular state of mind; of or resulting from the feelings or temperament of the subject, or person thinking; not objective; personal
  2. Resulting from or pertaining to personal mindsets or experience, arising from perceptive mental conditions within the brain and not necessarily or directly from external stimuli.
  3. Based on a given person's experience, understanding, and feelings; personal or individual:
absolute
Not to be doubted or questioned; positive:
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  1. Not to be doubted or questioned; positive:
  2. Being fully such; utter:
  3. Unconstrained by constitutional or other provisions:
absolutistic
Alternative form of absolutist.[First attested in the mid 19th century.]
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  1. Alternative form of absolutist.[First attested in the mid 19th century.]
autarchic
Of, pertaining to, or marked by autarchy; autocratic.
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  1. Of, pertaining to, or marked by autarchy; autocratic.
autocratic
Of or pertaining to the manner of an autocrat.
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  1. Of or pertaining to the manner of an autocrat.
  2. Tending to impose one's will on others in an insistent or arrogant manner; domineering.
  3. Of or pertaining to autocracy or to an autocrat; absolute; holding independent and arbitrary powers of government.
despotic
Of or pertaining to a despot or tyrant.
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  1. Of or pertaining to a despot or tyrant.
  2. Of or like a despot; autocratic; tyrannical
  3. Acting or ruling as a despot, tyrannical.
dictatorial
Of or pertaining to a dictator
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  1. Of or pertaining to a dictator
  2. In the manner of a dictator, usually with callous disregard for others
  3. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a dictator or dictatorship; autocratic.
totalitarian
Completely authoritarian, autocratic, dictatorial, etc.
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  1. Completely authoritarian, autocratic, dictatorial, etc.
  2. Of, relating to, being, or imposing a form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is suppressed:
tyrannical
Of or suited to a tyrant; arbitrary; despotic
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  1. Of or suited to a tyrant; arbitrary; despotic
  2. Characteristic of a tyrant or tyranny; despotic and oppressive:
  3. (Comparable) Despotic, oppressive or authoritarian.
tyrannous
Characterized by tyranny; despotic.
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  1. Characterized by tyranny; despotic.
  2. Tyrannical; despotic, oppressive, unjust, etc.
  3. Tyrannical, despotic or oppressive
Find another word for arbitrary. In this page you can discover 81 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for arbitrary, like: willful, capricious, self-assertive, frivolous, injudicious, wayward, offhand, erratic, impulsive, inconsistent and crotchety.

Sentence Examples

  • The committee had arbitrary rules.

  • The assumption was arbitrary, based on no valid evidence.

  • The situation was exploited by attackers to access sensitive information and to run arbitrary code on an affected machine.

  • Authoritarian parents may not understand the reasons behind the rules they make or communicate these underlying reasons to their children, making their commands seem arbitrary to their children.

  • The system was exploited by attackers to access sensitive information or run arbitrary code on an affected machine.

More sentences →

Words that mention arbitrary in the Dictionary

Words near arbitrary in the Thesaurus