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
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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
But Trump’s arbitrary brand of interventionism comes with obvious dangers.
—
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Until now, a significant obstacle has been the lack of a device that could route photons of arbitrary polarization at standard telecommunication wavelengths while simultaneously exhibiting both low signal loss and high fidelity.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
But unlike the evolution of colloquial language, which is largely arbitrary, the evolution of scientific terms must reflect our current understanding of reality.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
According to the report, arbitrary detention is not an accident of state power but a systematic strategy — a cornerstone of Venezuela’s repressive apparatus.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Until now, a significant obstacle has been the lack of a device that could route photons of arbitrary polarization at standard telecommunication wavelengths while simultaneously exhibiting both low signal loss and high fidelity.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
But unlike the evolution of colloquial language, which is largely arbitrary, the evolution of scientific terms must reflect our current understanding of reality.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
According to the report, arbitrary detention is not an accident of state power but a systematic strategy — a cornerstone of Venezuela’s repressive apparatus.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
Adjective
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Jackson returns as Wes Bryant, a handsome, intelligent, but arrogant man who had just moved to Seattle and was revealed to be a new medical intern at Grey Sloan.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
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Jack Cutmore-Scott as Julius Beaufort, an arrogant new money banker at the center of New York society with an interest in Ellen.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Sprinkle in Minerals Don't just toss in minerals at random, says Damrosch—only use when recommended by your soil test to correct deficiencies that have been identified.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2025
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Besides the occasional random spider that scuttles indoors, some spiders can live in out-of-the-way spots in your home, such as along ceilings or in basements and behind clutter.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Amid the town’s oppressive atmosphere, Elma’s colleague Saevar could provide salvation.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
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In eastern Rajasthan’s poppy fields, an activist son and a farmer mother work to free themselves from oppressive circumstances.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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By comparison, campaign two felt more scattered and improvisational (befitting a D&D game).—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
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The threat for heavy rain in South Florida is diminishing, however typical scattered thunderstorms with locally heavy downpours are still possible in the area through the weekend.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Jorgen Watne Frydens, the Nobel Committee chair, spoke broadly about the advance of authoritarian regimes in the world and retreat of democracy in the announcement.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
10 Oct. 2025
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Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who turned 58 this week, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering efforts to promote democratic rights in a country plagued by authoritarian rule.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Even if most of these conditions are met, one or two unfair elements can strongly shape overall perceptions of fairness.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
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Creativity is the last unfair advantage left.—
Erik Huberman,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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One of the biggest targets of Collier’s ire was perceived inconsistent officiating in the WNBA.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
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On top of that, the Dodgers bullpen has been between inconsistent and awful for much of the season.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Scott's most recent projects include the 2024 sequel Gladiator II, which starred Paul Mescal as the son of Russell Crowe's Maximus, who squares off against tyrannical twin emperors.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
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Fox reclaims the notorious lady-in-waiting from centuries of scandal, revealing a sharp-witted, politically savvy woman caught in the tyrannical court of Henry VIII.—
Phillipa Gregory,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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