as in capriciously
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Recent Examples of arbitrarily
These types of homes should not be arbitrarily restricted from the state’s residential areas.
—
Eliza Terziev, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
The plaintiffs at the center of this case are not being targeted arbitrarily.
—Mikayla Price, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
No such rules appear to exist for Saudi Arabia, whose leaders have been accused of arbitrarily arresting, jailing and torturing people who speak out against the government.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Much smaller than originally thought Initially, when discovered in January, it was arbitrarily assumed that Comet MAPS might be rather large, as most Kreutz comets go.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2026
According to Jackson, the majority arbitrarily collapses that distinction simply because the treatment is delivered orally.
—Kevin Cope, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
The dollar amount was chosen arbitrarily based on what voters might accept, and some cynics saw it as a move by a pro-development commission to cozy up to environmentalists.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
That standard would uphold the NCAA’s interpretation of the waiver rule so long as the NCAA didn’t act arbitrarily or capriciously, either of which is difficult to show.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2026
There are questions about the rights of citizens versus non-citizens, the rights of the US to pull visas arbitrarily.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Eliza Terziev, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
The plaintiffs at the center of this case are not being targeted arbitrarily.
—Mikayla Price, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
No such rules appear to exist for Saudi Arabia, whose leaders have been accused of arbitrarily arresting, jailing and torturing people who speak out against the government.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Much smaller than originally thought Initially, when discovered in January, it was arbitrarily assumed that Comet MAPS might be rather large, as most Kreutz comets go.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2026
According to Jackson, the majority arbitrarily collapses that distinction simply because the treatment is delivered orally.
—Kevin Cope, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
The dollar amount was chosen arbitrarily based on what voters might accept, and some cynics saw it as a move by a pro-development commission to cozy up to environmentalists.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
That standard would uphold the NCAA’s interpretation of the waiver rule so long as the NCAA didn’t act arbitrarily or capriciously, either of which is difficult to show.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2026
There are questions about the rights of citizens versus non-citizens, the rights of the US to pull visas arbitrarily.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrarily
Adverb
-
Permits that are granted and withdrawn capriciously, tax credits that come and go, technologies that fall in or out of favor in successive administrations, and endless legal battles all amount to dangerous barriers to investment.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
That standard would uphold the NCAA’s interpretation of the waiver rule so long as the NCAA didn’t act arbitrarily or capriciously, either of which is difficult to show.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The most common example of extreme indifference is a person who fires a gun into a crowd indiscriminately, creating a grave risk of death to others.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Stagi says she's disappointed Rice was charged with less serious crimes but hopes the prosecution sends a message that immigration officers can’t tackle people indiscriminately and use excessive force.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Its international airport — which only recently reopened — has the remains of propeller planes carelessly tossed to the side of the runway, their bodies riddled with bullet holes and their wings askew.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Treat the produce section carelessly.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Timothée Chalamet heads to the beach in Miami in a casually stylish look of a Nahmias cap, Supreme x Wu-Tang Clan RZA T-shirt and cargo shorts on April 17.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The need to constantly fact check statements by those who casually share stories in public forums, not to mention politicians and corporations, will not be lost on contemporary theater audiences.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Those who sign up are expected to receive an email to see if they’ve been randomly selected for a time slot to shop when tickets officially go on sale in August.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The motor can also rotate clockwise, causing the cell to tumble about randomly.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
No landlord would allow an occupant to change his property without approval, let alone whimsically destroy a third of it.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Something this rare — this pink, this whimsically named — had been thriving just steps away from a local community, entirely unrecognized until the survey team went out to look.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Crawling the walls Orson Welles learned to draw from his mother, who informally homeschooled the budding artist during his childhood, which was marked by grave illnesses including malaria and diphtheria.—
Michelle Duncan,
Architectural Digest,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The public signing of the Executive Order 26-3 comes in the final three weeks of a legislative session that has yet to resolve how much of the $500 million informally earmarked for addressing affordability issues will go to aid for municipalities facing sharply higher education costs.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Political factions are steered by big personalities, and politicians jump promiscuously between parties.—
BEN BLAND,
Foreign Affairs,
13 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrarily. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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