My mother prefers the arbitrary selection of the lottery machines over my lucky numbers.
Source: tatoeba (1932)
Arbitrary
/ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/
Synonyms for "arbitrary" (204 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (41)
Adjective(2 words)
Verb(2 words)
create random datagenerate random sequence
Noun(1 words)
Strong matches (61)
Adjective(14 words)
generichaphazardhaphazard lesson planhaphazard methodirrationalrandomrandom actionsrandom activityrandom approachrandom arrangementrandom assemblyrandom classrandom focusrandom guess
Adverb(1 words)
more random layout
Noun(1 words)
pick at random
Related words (102)
Adjective(33 words)
random guessworkrandom ideasrandom instructionrandom languagerandom layoutrandom listrandom methodrandom motionrandom networkrandom noiserandom notesrandom numberrandom objectrandom problemrandom processrandom processesrandom puzzlerandom resultrandom selectionsrandom sequence
Show 13 more words
random shufflerandom studyingrandom stylerandom taskrandom text samplerandom topicrandom wordingrandom worksheetsrandomized methodunprincipled teachingunrestrictedunspecified notationwhimsical
Verb(1 words)
Noun(5 words)
rashreasonlessrepressivescrewballself-actingself-activeself-determinedself-determiningseverespontaneousstrictsubjectivesummarysuppressivetemperamentalthoughtlesstotaltotalitariantoughtyrannical
Show 42 more words
tyrannousunaskedunbesoughtunbiddenuncalculatinguncalled foruncalled-foruncertainuncoerceduncompelleduncompromisingunconstrainedundisciplinedunforcedunguardeduninfluenceduninvitedunpredictableunpressuredunpromptedunreasonableunreasoningunreflectingunrequestedunrequiredunrestrainedunrulyunsolicitedunsoughtunthinkingunthoughtfulvagariousvagrantvaryingvoluntaryvolunteerwantonwaywardwhimsicalwildwillfulzany
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: absolute, absolutist, absolutistic, aristocratic, arrogant.
- Sentence evidence is available for arbitrary, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "arbitrary".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "arbitrary"
Keep "arbitrary" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "arbitrary" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "arbitrary", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "arbitrary" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesMore specific
4 entriesarbitrary constantarbitrary decisionarbitrary functionarbitrary selection
Collocations
6 entriesarbitrary choicearbitrary constantarbitrary decisionarbitrary functionarbitrary precisionarbitrary sample
Inflections
2 entriesmore arbitrarymost arbitrary
Derivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
6 entriesSample sentences
16 total sentences available.
Our decision to go to Portugal was quite arbitrary.
Source: tatoeba (247210)
Of course, they are suffering from terrible working conditions such as low wages and arbitrary layoffs, as well as from various forms of discrimination.
Source: tatoeba (278443)
Lemma 5 cannot be generalized to arbitrary artinian rings.
Source: tatoeba (387014)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "arbitrary"?
Closest matches include absolute, absolutist, absolutistic, aristocratic, arrogant.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "arbitrary"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.