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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arbitrary
Many are arbitrary, backed by limited surveys or easy-to-interpret-however-you-like data.
—
Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
As anyone who has tried can attest, building anything these days, whether a house or a commercial project, requires navigating a complex labyrinth of regulations, enduring a long and grueling and extremely costly, and often arbitrary, multilayered approval, review, and permitting process.
—Lee Steinhauer, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
International organizations have said Israel’s rules are arbitrary and could endanger staff.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Human rights groups denounced his detention as arbitrary.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
As anyone who has tried can attest, building anything these days, whether a house or a commercial project, requires navigating a complex labyrinth of regulations, enduring a long and grueling and extremely costly, and often arbitrary, multilayered approval, review, and permitting process.
—Lee Steinhauer, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
International organizations have said Israel’s rules are arbitrary and could endanger staff.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Human rights groups denounced his detention as arbitrary.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
Adjective
-
A lot of people who are that level of arrogant, there’s also an immense insecurity, right?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The boy is arrogant, Helen thinks.—
Sadia Shepard,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Sixty contest winners will be selected by random drawing of entry forms.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Laboratory testing usually happens only on random samples.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Women were crucial participants in the 1979 revolution that overthrew the last Shah (king) of Iran and his oppressive rule.—
Ellie Austin,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
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When you’re surrounded by lush green leaves and bathed in natural light, winter feels less oppressive.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The law also features enforcement mechanisms, which include FTC cease-and-desist orders, findings of unfair and deceptive trade practices and the capacity of states’ attorneys general to bring SPARTA cases.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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By a 57% to 24% margin, respondents said that the Oklahoma insurance commissioner was not protecting Oklahoma residents from unfair property insurance rates.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoma Watch,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Its fractured, scattered form, grasping for structure instead of pretending to master it, is an attempt to build a future that will include both author and reader.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
1 Jan. 2026
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On Sunday, rain will pick up across the Midwest from Kansas and Missouri through Ohio and Pennsylvania while scattered thunderstorms are possible from Arkansas up to Ohio, with some possibly strong enough to bring gusty winds and maybe an isolated tornado.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
27 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Bin Salman, known informally as MBS, is Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler and has been criticized for having a similar authoritarian leadership style.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Yesterday, more than 50,000 Minneapolis residents joined a peaceful general strike against this authoritarian overreach.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Andrademembreno’s attorney, Paul Rogers, argued that Berrios lied and pointed to multiple inconsistent statements to authorities and prosecutors and in her testimony.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Trump proved to be a vexing ideological lodestar—aggressively anti-intellectual in his attitudes and consistently inconsistent in his views.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Back in the late 1700s, with the demands of a tyrannical and unaccountable king at the front of their minds, the founders built a tariff order aimed at maintaining democratic legitimacy and preventing the concentration of power in a single individual’s hands.—
Kent Jones,
The Conversation,
17 Jan. 2026
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The proud and courageous Iranian people are rising up against the tyrannical, despotic and oppressive regime that imposed its vicious rule in 1979 and has governed by fear and murder ever since.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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