ARBITRARINESS Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

arbitrariness

noun

Definition of arbitrariness

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 Marvel movies link this narrative contingency to formal arbitrariness. — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrariness

Noun

Trade Dynamics & Risks This position profits if GOOGL trades strictly between $250 and $325 through expiration, allowing time decay (theta) and the post-event volatility crush (vega) to erode the options' value.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026
Eventually, allegory overwhelms dramaturgy, with a group of soccer hooligans—emblems of the volatility of men under threat—playing a pivotal role in Leo’s end.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of volatility

Noun

That was the quote of the season from the Sox and a great observation on the fickleness of sports fans in general.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Early also has a larger target in view, the fickleness of internet celebrity, a lure that often comes with self-harm.

— Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

Definition of fickleness

Noun

Previously, Wagner has pushed to release state voter information to the Justice Department, citing voter irregularity claims.

— Senior Editor, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
The challenge is that chips are carved in the miniature realm where matter itself has the irregularity of wood grain.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of irregularity

Browse Nearby Words

arbitrarily

arbitrariness

arbitrary

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Arbitrariness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrariness. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of arbitrariness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

abandon

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes