as in capriciously
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Recent Examples of arbitrarily
The constitutional principle behind that decision – that citizenship is a fundamental right which can’t be arbitrarily taken away by whoever happens to be in power – applies equally to how the government handles denaturalization cases today.
—
Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
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
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
Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
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
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
-
During the pavilion’s preview, a brief but loud protest led by Russian dissident disruptors Pussy Riot and the Ukrainian feminist group FEMEN might have been the most exciting thing to happen at the underwhelming and carelessly presented group show of live performance and video art.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
-
They were exposed down the left with Cody Gakpo, Mac Allister and Andy Robertson constantly being caught out of position when Liverpool turned the ball over carelessly.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
3 May 2026
Adverb
-
Charlotte Reiss's kitchen in the heart of Provence is a casually elegant space that would put any home cook at ease.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Bierman captured the moment as Wetjen stood near the green, casually holding a wedge while taking the call — a scene that somehow makes getting drafted to the NFL feel like just another Saturday afternoon.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Hand says that a couple of errors that can make randomly occurring patterns look deceptively connected.—
Faye Flam,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
-
The trial, funded by Moderna, included more than 40,000 adults ages 50 and up who were randomly assigned to get the mRNA vaccine or one of four standard flu shots during the 2024–2025 flu season.—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
6 May 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
-
Before the Twenty-fifth, Presidents had informally handed over power to the Vice-President during medical issues or temporary absences, but always voluntarily.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
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
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 11 May. 2026.
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