as in capriciously
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Recent Examples of arbitrarily
These puzzles, like the horizon problem, the flatness problem, and the monopole problem, strongly suggested that the hot, dense, early state couldn’t be extrapolated to arbitrarily high temperatures and energies.
—
Big Think, 22 Oct. 2025
Iran has accused France of arbitrarily detaining Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student living in the French city of Lyon, who was arrested this year over anti-Israel social media posts.
—CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
But arbitrarily requiring drivers to slow down won't work, according to Jay Beeber, executive director for policy at the National Motorists Association.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
Suiter claimed the county was unable to specifically itemize the various charges that summed to $25,000 — apart from the additional $8,000 for parking — and that the figure had been determined arbitrarily, both allegations that Krueger disputed.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 28 Sep. 2025
The law, which took effect in June, also sees to it that agencies don’t hold power of attorney over a model’s digital likeness, which means that it can’t be arbitrarily tossed into contracts at the demand of a brand or retailer.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 23 Sep. 2025
The June court decision confirming that the tax treatment on breakup fees will not be arbitrarily changed provides this stability with respect to the tax code.
—Wayne Winegarden, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
United Nations human rights experts have said such agreements have left people stranded in faraway places, arbitrarily detained for years on end, and at risk of torture and other inhuman treatment.
—Juan A. Lozano, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Their favorite activities are arbitrarily assigned (telling ghost stories, picking pumpkins).
—Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Big Think, 22 Oct. 2025
Iran has accused France of arbitrarily detaining Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student living in the French city of Lyon, who was arrested this year over anti-Israel social media posts.
—CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
But arbitrarily requiring drivers to slow down won't work, according to Jay Beeber, executive director for policy at the National Motorists Association.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
Suiter claimed the county was unable to specifically itemize the various charges that summed to $25,000 — apart from the additional $8,000 for parking — and that the figure had been determined arbitrarily, both allegations that Krueger disputed.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 28 Sep. 2025
The law, which took effect in June, also sees to it that agencies don’t hold power of attorney over a model’s digital likeness, which means that it can’t be arbitrarily tossed into contracts at the demand of a brand or retailer.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 23 Sep. 2025
The June court decision confirming that the tax treatment on breakup fees will not be arbitrarily changed provides this stability with respect to the tax code.
—Wayne Winegarden, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
United Nations human rights experts have said such agreements have left people stranded in faraway places, arbitrarily detained for years on end, and at risk of torture and other inhuman treatment.
—Juan A. Lozano, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Their favorite activities are arbitrarily assigned (telling ghost stories, picking pumpkins).
—Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrarily
Adverb
-
Envision a passive approach to private credit, inflows would require managers to indiscriminately allocate capital among existing borrowers.—
Mike Terwilliger,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Avoid spraying indiscriminately indoors.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Wallets, coins, and rings are carelessly passed around this little society, and messages are corrupted—from Orsino’s wooing of Olivia, which is accidentally undone by his own go-between, Viola, to the letters that deceive Malvolio.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
-
But also just a touch ironic — like a man handing out fire safety pamphlets while carelessly flipping burgers over a bonfire on his porch.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Soon there’s a birthday party, Valentine’s Day, a brit bat (aka a baby-naming ceremony), Purim (a celebration of Jewish deliverance casually referred to as Jewish Halloween), and a game night at a beer garden.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Dacus appeared visibly confused by Monáe casually dropping some time-traveling lore.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Poets from across the country apply and are randomly selected to perform at events in New York, or at pop-up showcases in other cities worldwide.—
Megan Sauer,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Huffman recently whimsically hinted at his enthusiasm about representing new territory.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Hanging below the vast cosmic heart is a knot of dust and gas known informally as the Fishhead Nebula, thanks to its vaguely oval outline and a dark dust filament that gives it the appearance of an aquatic creature.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Bodine said that the HOA wanted to try to resolve the concerns informally and come to a resolution.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Political factions are steered by big personalities, and politicians jump promiscuously between parties.—
BEN BLAND,
Foreign Affairs,
13 Feb. 2024
Adverb
-
Today, nearly all migrants that arrive irregularly at the border are barred from seeking protection at the border and most are detained and processed for deportation.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Both moons are irregularly shaped.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrarily. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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