Synonyms of arbitrary

arbitrary

adjective

ˈär-bə-ˌtrer-ē 

1

as in arrogant

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 & Similar Words

• arrogant
• unfair
• inconsistent
• unreasonable
• authoritarian
• dominant
• dictatorial
• imperious
• unjust
• willful
• peremptory
• domineering
• high-handed
• commanding
• unequal
• capricious
• totalitarian
• tyrannical
• erratic
• overbearing
• despotic
• demanding
• autocratic
• whimsical
• presumptuous
• partisan
• inequitable
• haughty
• unrealistic
• imperative
• mercurial
• biased
• changeable
• unprincipled
• unscrupulous
• masterful
• unconscionable
• tyrannous
• unethical
• lordly
• prejudiced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• equal
• equitable
• objective
• reasonable
• fair
• impartial
• balanced
• rational
• just
• dispassionate
• disinterested
• evenhanded
• nonpartisan
• understanding
• moral
• unbiased
• unprejudiced
• ethical
• honorable
• unimpeachable
• principled
• irreproachable
• law-abiding

2

as in random

lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• random
• scattered
• erratic
• accidental
• haphazard
• stray
• sporadic
• lucky
• contingent
• aimless
• casual
• odd
• desultory
• irregular
• slapdash
• hit-or-miss
• incidental
• chance
• inadvertent
• helter-skelter
• catch-as-catch-can
• indiscriminate
• unintentional
• fortuitous
• unintended
• unplanned
• spot
• unconsidered
• unsystematic
• unpremeditated
• purposeless
• shotgun
• directionless
• scattershot
• undirected
• disorganized
• chancy
• fluky
• disorderly
• undiscriminating
• objectless
• unselective

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• systematic
• regular
• regular
• orderly
• continuous
• constant
• fixed
• stable
• organized
• steady
• nonrandom
• established
• methodical
• systematized
• even
• set
• arranged
• deliberate
• conscious
• aware
• planned
• purposeful
• ordered
• willful
• thoughtful
• managed
• orchestrated

3

as in oppressive

exercising power or authority without interference by others

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• oppressive
• authoritarian
• tyrannical
• despotic
• autocratic
• dictatorial
• absolute
• tyrannous
• domineering
• czarist
• monocratic
• totalitarian
• antidemocratic
• imperious
• sovereign
• magisterial
• autonomous
• omnipotent
• all-powerful
• unconditional
• high-handed
• unlimited
• jackbooted
• almighty
• antirepublican
• masterful
• self-governing
• self-ruling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• limited
• constitutional
• restricted
• lawful
• democratic
• circumscribed
• restrained
• republican

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of arbitrary

The 2-1 decision rejected Anthropic’s argument that the Department of Defense’s ban on its Claude models was arbitrary, unauthorized and unconstitutional. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Instead of the process using an arbitrary random number generator for next-word selection, the watermarking uses a secret key. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2026

Thaci, 58, who resigned from office nearly six years ago to face the charges, was convicted by a panel of judges at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers of murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention. — CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026

Judges found Thaci and three former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders responsible for arbitrary detention, torture, cruel treatment and 96 murders of civilians, while acquitting them on six charges of crimes against humanity. — Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

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