SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
arbitrary
adjective
Based on individual choice or whim rather than a consistent reason or rule.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Based on whim or discretion
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topAn arbitrary choice rests on discretion or whim rather than a consistent stated principle. Inconsistency alone can also result from error or changing circumstances.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See arbitrary in use
An arbitrary deadline made the task harder without serving a clear purpose.
A pottery club's storage assignments had become arbitrary, depending on who happened to ask the coordinator at the end of a busy evening.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license