Arbitrary vs Obstinate - What's the difference?
arbitrary | obstinate | Related terms |
(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.
Stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course, usually with implied unreasonableness; persistent.
* 1686 , , "That men are justly punished for being obstinate in the defence of a fort that is not in reason to be defended",
Said of inanimate things not easily subdued or removed.
* 1927 , ,
Arbitrary is a related term of obstinate.
As adjectives the difference between arbitrary and obstinate
is that arbitrary is (usually|of a decision) based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random while obstinate is stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course, usually with implied unreasonableness; persistent.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
* *obstinate
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- From this consideration it is that we have derived the custom, in times of war, to punish
- Now it happened that Kasturbai had again begun getting haemorrhage, and the malady seemed to be obstinate .