1
as in arrogant
having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity
an arbitrary piano teacher who makes all her students do the same exercises over and over again
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
the order of the names of the 10 semifinalists is entirely arbitrary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in oppressive
exercising power or authority without interference by others
a nation with no tradition of democracy, only a long history of arbitrary rulers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arbitrary
The film will continue in this restless, darting manner, as Martone, co-writer Ippolita di Majo and editor Jacopo Quadri aim to cultivate some sense of intrigue around Sapienza’s journey by withholding key information about the past until fairly arbitrary points in the overall structure.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 May 2025
Independent jurors can blunt the force of immoral laws and arbitrary prosecutions by refusing to subject their neighbors to unjust laws or overtly cruel punishment.
—Mike Fox, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
But Laxe’s cadence of death is nasty and arbitrary and delightful.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
These bills would formalize what the Parole Board should already be doing and therefore limit arbitrary rejections.
—Julia Salazar, New York Daily News, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 May 2025
Independent jurors can blunt the force of immoral laws and arbitrary prosecutions by refusing to subject their neighbors to unjust laws or overtly cruel punishment.
—Mike Fox, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
But Laxe’s cadence of death is nasty and arbitrary and delightful.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
These bills would formalize what the Parole Board should already be doing and therefore limit arbitrary rejections.
—Julia Salazar, New York Daily News, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
Adjective
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Richard was known for being outspoken, if not arrogant, consistently rubbing his Tagi tribe the wrong way and offending some of them with his blatant display of nudity on the island.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
-
Multiple people described him to me as unpopular and arrogant.—
Amanda Chicago Lewis,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The bill also calls for the State Department of Education to conduct random surprise visits at private special education institutions.—
Emilia Otte,
Hartford Courant,
30 May 2025
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But all that information exists in random, unorganized disorder.—
Jerry Weissman,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The United States held Qaddafi’s Libya up as a success story in the global war on terror, a former rogue state that had made amends for its murderous past, relinquished its nuclear-weapons program and reoriented its oppressive state apparatus around American foreign-policy priorities.—
Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
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Contracts of adhesion are sometimes seen as oppressive, especially in the consumer context, but courts often regard them as enforceable.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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But this one rush job, HB 1205, was especially dear to the governor’s authoritarian heart.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 May 2025
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Panahi’s film, his first since being released from prison in 2023, is a direct assault on Iran’s authoritarian regime.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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At the core of disagreements over access is whether trans women have unfair physical athletic advantages.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
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The government argues that Google's control of Chrome, the world's most popular browser, drives traffic to its search engine and revenue to the company — which the DOJ calls an unfair advantage.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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This is at odds with the concept of getting the most out of every customer deal by wielding inconsistent discounts and surcharges when certain situations arise.—
Chris Mele,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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Frustrated by long 311 hold times or inconsistent trash pickup?—
Melanie La Rocca,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Coupled with his hateful rhetoric, threats, lies, erratic policies, trampling of the Constitution and abnormal fascination with childish superlatives, tyrannical figures and Soviet-era style military parades, there’s much to be concerned about.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2025
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The Wolves rose up and defeated the tyrannical FEDRA, forcing them to abandon the quarantine zone.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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At this juncture, a 10-7 regular season record isn’t unreasonable.—
Charley Walters,
Twin Cities,
25 May 2025
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Are my feelings unreasonable? – Mother-of-the-Groom Gloom Dear Mother: Your feelings are completely reasonable.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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