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arbitrary

ar·bi·trar·y

arbitrary

 
 
pronunciation:
ar bih trer i
features:
Word Combinations (adjective)
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: resulting from whim or caprice instead of from a rule or reason.
The committee's decision seemed completely arbitrary.
synonyms:
capricious, fanciful, unreasonable, wayward, whimsical
antonyms:
legitimate, rational
similar words:
crotchety, irrational
definition 2: exercising power with no legal restrictions; despotic.
One arbitrary leader after another ruled the country during this period of instability.
synonyms:
despotic, domineering, high-handed, tyrannical, tyrannous, unlimited, unrestrained
similar words:
autocratic, dictatorial, imperious
definition 3: arrived at by an arbiter or judge.
There was an arbitrary settlement of the case.
synonyms:
adjudicated, arbitrated
similar words:
settled
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: arbitrarily (adv.), arbitrariness (n.)