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
Using this approach, the team demonstrated arbitrary pulse shaping, tunable second-harmonic generation, holographic generation of spatio-spectrally structured light, and real-time inverse design of nonlinear-optical functions.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Beeber said speed limits on highways are arbitrary to some extent given their design.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
What To Know On October 7, 2025, the State Department reaffirmed Level 2 travel advisories for both the Maldives and Equatorial Guinea, but expanded the risk profile for Equatorial Guinea, adding fresh warnings regarding arbitrary law enforcement.
—News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Especially right now, when most of whatever happens next would seem to be determined by arbitrary and despotic centers of earthly power.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Beeber said speed limits on highways are arbitrary to some extent given their design.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
What To Know On October 7, 2025, the State Department reaffirmed Level 2 travel advisories for both the Maldives and Equatorial Guinea, but expanded the risk profile for Equatorial Guinea, adding fresh warnings regarding arbitrary law enforcement.
—News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Especially right now, when most of whatever happens next would seem to be determined by arbitrary and despotic centers of earthly power.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
Adjective
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Some might see you as arrogant.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Only random film students might ask her about it.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
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So random though, and never had both my phone and internet just flatline like that.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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After a summer of oppressive heat, October is when New York City hits its stride.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
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Raducanu had her blood pressure taken during the match, which was played in oppressive heat and humidity, before retiring down 6-1, 4-1.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The core loop spans 18 miles with 4,500 feet of elevation gain, winding from Colchuck Lake’s turquoise waters to the Upper Enchantment Basin’s moonscape of polished granite and scattered tarns.—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
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Michigan residents are in for another seasonable week, with cooler temperatures and scattered rain, according to the National Weather Service.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a moving moment of magnanimity, which won’t be given away here, that proves the underlying dignity of a people broken by an authoritarian state.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
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The plot of His Dark Materials is driven by the long-running conflict between Pullman’s heroine, a bold, lithely intelligent 11-year-old named Lyra, and the Magisterium, an authoritarian incarnation of Christianity.—
Lev Grossman,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Thomas has been the subject of global scrutiny after winning a host of NCAA women’s races, triggering an outcry from those who thought she – as a transgender woman – held an unfair advantage over her competitors.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
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But opponents say the exemption is an unfair tax benefit for feed sellers.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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An inconsistent day for Beau Pribula The final result was a win, and that is important for this Missouri team.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
19 Oct. 2025
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Diagnosis and care are often late, inconsistent, or inaccessible.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Players land on the planet Kairos, which is being ruled by a tyrannical dictator called the Timekeeper.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
13 Oct. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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