Find Synonyms

arbitrary Synonyms

Another word for arbitrary

Choosing another word for arbitrary depends on context, so the 18 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason, logic, or system.

Usage Example

"The committee's decision to set the deadline at noon on a Tuesday seemed completely capricious."

Strongest
capricious
random
Strong
whimsical
haphazard
erratic
discretionary
subjective

• adjective (Context 2)

Unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority (of power or a ruling body).

Usage Example

"The constitution was designed to protect citizens from autocratic arrest and abuse of state power."

Strongest
autocratic
despotic
Strong
tyrannical
dictatorial
high-handed
authoritarian
imperious

• adjective (Context 3)

Of unspecified value or nature; variable and not assigned a fixed value (in mathematics and logic).

Usage Example

"To prove the theorem, let us first consider an unspecified positive integer."

Strong
unspecified
indeterminate
variable
unrestricted

Opposites of arbitrary

The opposite of arbitrary shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

rational
fixed
systematic
constitutional
democratic
constant
logical
reasoned
See all opposites of arbitrary

• Nearby Words

arbiter
arbitrarily
arbitrariness
arbitrary
arbitrate
arbitration
arbitrator

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Arbitrary. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/arbitrary
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