as in capriciously
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Recent Examples of arbitrarily
In its latest estimate, Foro Penal, an independent NGO that provides pro bono legal services to people detained arbitrarily, said more than 800 political prisoners were still behind bars.
—
Flora Charner, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
France had maintained Vinatier was arbitrarily detained and had called for his release.
—Reuters, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026
And atoms and molecules retain energy even if they’re cooled arbitrarily close to absolute zero.
—George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2026
Lawyers for the state said Humphreys has failed to show how his lawyers have been restricted from preparing for his upcoming execution because of COVID-19 or that the state has arbitrarily chosen to exclude him from the agreement.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
According to the human rights group Foro Penal, more than 800 people remain imprisoned for political reasons, and over 18,000 have been detained arbitrarily since 2014.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Israel opened and closed Gaza’s borders with Egypt arbitrarily and without warning.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
Or that, even worse, it would be arbitrarily divided into episodes in order to inflate the view count and/or pander to short attention spans (Eywa wept).
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
Tracks are shown arbitrarily with different start points but the same end points.
—Raj Dhiman, Sourcing Journal, 6 Nov. 2025
Flora Charner, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
France had maintained Vinatier was arbitrarily detained and had called for his release.
—Reuters, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026
And atoms and molecules retain energy even if they’re cooled arbitrarily close to absolute zero.
—George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2026
Lawyers for the state said Humphreys has failed to show how his lawyers have been restricted from preparing for his upcoming execution because of COVID-19 or that the state has arbitrarily chosen to exclude him from the agreement.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
According to the human rights group Foro Penal, more than 800 people remain imprisoned for political reasons, and over 18,000 have been detained arbitrarily since 2014.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Israel opened and closed Gaza’s borders with Egypt arbitrarily and without warning.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
Or that, even worse, it would be arbitrarily divided into episodes in order to inflate the view count and/or pander to short attention spans (Eywa wept).
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
Tracks are shown arbitrarily with different start points but the same end points.
—Raj Dhiman, Sourcing Journal, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrarily
Adverb
-
An Israeli military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under military rules, said Israel was not indiscriminately knocking down buildings.—
Samuel Granados,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
But instead of cutting through red tape so that officials could use their judgment to get things done, DOGE fired officials indiscriminately, which led only to greater paralysis.—
Philip K. Howard,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
As flawed generative AI tools continue to be used carelessly, without the necessary follow-up work of checking for hallucinations, experts warn that agencies like NWS could inflict serious damage to their reputation and authority.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Florida has a prohibition on carelessly carrying a gun.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
31 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
In the video, which is credited to Parade, Nick Jonas can be seen hanging outside the awards show by himself, casually sipping on a water bottle.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Keds Square-Toe Mary Jane Sneakers Keds are classics for a reason—they’re casually polished and super wearable.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
12 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
In theory, people investing their money may be closely following certain events, but others could just be randomly guessing.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
And then randomly pick people up off the street after that.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The whimsically nostalgic Lenox Spice Village has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years as a new generation falls in love with the miniature porcelain Victorian houses.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
15 Jan. 2026
-
More whimsically, it's known for a friendship between a cheetah and Labrador retriever that had a social media moment.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Knowledge here is passed informally, not written down.—
Parin Moradiya,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
As for the Panthers’ side of things, seeds were planted informally a few years ago.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
1 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Political factions are steered by big personalities, and politicians jump promiscuously between parties.—
BEN BLAND,
Foreign Affairs,
13 Feb. 2024
Adverb
-
Other areas will use cluster planting, with trees grouped irregularly and open space between them, mimicking the look of a healthy forest.—
Mark Billingsley,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
This is a condition where the heart’s upper chamber beats irregularly and fast.—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrarily. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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