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Arbitrary vs Resolute - What's the difference?

arbitrary | resolute |

As adjectives the difference between arbitrary and resolute

is that arbitrary is based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random while resolute is firm, unyielding, determined.

As a noun arbitrary

is anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.

arbitrary

English

Adjective

(arbitrariness) (en adjective)
  • (usually, of a decision) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.
  • 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.
  • Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.
  • "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)
  • (mathematics) Any and all possible.
  • The equation is true for an arbitrary value of x.
  • Determined by independent arbiter.
  • 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)
  • Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.
  • resolute

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Firm, unyielding, determined.
  • She was resolute in her determination to resist his romantic advances.
    He was resolute in his decision to stay.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Edward is at hand, / Ready to fight; therefore be resolute .
  • * ’ (poem):
  • If the Coward Bumble Bee / In his chimney corner stay, / I, must resoluter be!
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=April 10 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Villa had plenty of opportunities to make the game safe after a shaky start and despite not reaching any great heights, they were resolute enough to take control of the game in the second half. }}
  • (obsolete) Convinced; satisfied; sure.
  • Usage notes

    * The one-word comparative form resoluter and superlative form resolutest are both well attested, though not as common as the two-word forms “more resolute” and “most resolute”.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * irresolute