as in volatility
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of arbitrariness
During the pandemic, Lowe, the father of two boys, wrestled with establishing safety measures at Benjamin, and he was struck by the arbitrariness of many health protocols.
—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
To live in greater Los Angeles is to embrace the arbitrariness of it all.
—
Meghan Daum,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Extreme violence is now a large part of this repertoire of arbitrariness.
—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
The execution of Jesus reveals the utter arbitrariness of political power.
—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
In an effort to construct a system of law that could prevent arbitrary outcomes, the court ended up making room for plenty of arbitrariness in who was allowed to live and who was sentenced to die.
—
Literary Hub,
20 Jan. 2026
As algorithms replace human deciders, HAI-EIS fellow Kathleen Creel argues arbitrariness at scale is morally and legally problematic.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
26 Mar. 2021
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
To live in greater Los Angeles is to embrace the arbitrariness of it all.
—
Meghan Daum,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Extreme violence is now a large part of this repertoire of arbitrariness.
—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
The execution of Jesus reveals the utter arbitrariness of political power.
—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
In an effort to construct a system of law that could prevent arbitrary outcomes, the court ended up making room for plenty of arbitrariness in who was allowed to live and who was sentenced to die.
—
Literary Hub,
20 Jan. 2026
As algorithms replace human deciders, HAI-EIS fellow Kathleen Creel argues arbitrariness at scale is morally and legally problematic.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
26 Mar. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrariness
Noun
-
But Exxon is a disciplined producer able to weather the volatility.
-
This pattern of extreme volatility is common in high-profile IPOs, where initial hype often inflates share values.
Noun
-
Harris drove in three runs in the 11-5 win, offering a reminder of baseball’s fickleness.
-
Newsom explains his fickleness differently.
Noun
-
Director Craig Gillespie — whose impressive filmography has included I Tonya, Lars & The Real Girl, Pam & Tommy and Cruella — has proved to be a master at letting characters breathe in all their eccentricity.
-
The stylistic eccentricities have been dialed back, including the use of old Hollywood film clips to reflect the action and possibly the thoughts of its main character, a cinephile from space, who is both practicing and enacting the work of a private detective.
Noun
-
Others are chasing answers for chronic bloating, pain or irregularity that no doctor has been able to explain.
-
The immediate trigger for Saturday’s protest was the reported irregularity in a recent exam that quickly became a broader outlet for frustration over India’s education system and limited job opportunities.
Noun
-
Scientific and engineering advances don't do well in the face of such wild swings and inconstancy.
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrariness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrariness. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
