What is the difference between arbitrary and capricious?
arbitrary | capricious | Synonyms |
(usually, of a decision) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.
Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.
(mathematics) Any and all possible.
Determined by independent arbiter.
Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.
Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim
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Capricious is a synonym of arbitrary.
As adjectives the difference between arbitrary and capricious
is that arbitrary is based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random while capricious is impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim.As a noun arbitrary
is anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.arbitrary
English
Adjective
(arbitrariness) (en adjective)- Benjamin Franklin's designation of "positive" and "negative" to different charges was arbitrary . In fact, electrons flow in the opposite direction to conventional current.
- The decision to use 18 years as the legal age of adulthood was arbitrary , as both age 17 and 19 were reasonable alternatives.
- "The Russian trials were Stalin's purges, with which he attempted to consolidate his power. Like most people in the West, I believed these show trials to be the arbitrary acts of a cruel dictator." (
Max Born, Letters to Einstein
)
- The equation is true for an arbitrary value of x.
- To secure food safety, there should first be a national standard to arbitrarily state what is wholesome and what is not; second, the final buyer should know exactly what he is purchasing. (
The World's Work ...: a history of our time
)
Noun
(arbitraries)External links
* *capricious
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- I almost died in a capricious winter storm.
- Stringent rulers are unlikely to act capriciously .
- The Mayor claimed that the action was reasonable, but in reality the action was arbitrary and capricious in nature.