1
as in arrogant
having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity
an arbitrary piano teacher who makes all her students do the same exercises over and over again
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
the order of the names of the 10 semifinalists is entirely arbitrary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in oppressive
exercising power or authority without interference by others
a nation with no tradition of democracy, only a long history of arbitrary rulers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arbitrary
The six exploits include a mix of flaws that allow hackers to achieve various malicious outcomes, such as executing arbitrary code, escalating privileges to take full control of a system or bypassing security features.
—
Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Naturally, the tech glitches and threatens to trap her forever — but that arbitrary twist leads to more time with Rae and Emma Corrin as Clara/Dorothy, whose connection makes the episode soar.
—Steve Greene, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025
However, economists have questioned the approach, with some saying the tariffs are arbitrary and others raising concerns about the ways in which Mr. Trump's levies will drive up the price of everyday goods.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
The responses, submitted by a fairly arbitrary group of women, range from profound to half-hearted.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Naturally, the tech glitches and threatens to trap her forever — but that arbitrary twist leads to more time with Rae and Emma Corrin as Clara/Dorothy, whose connection makes the episode soar.
—Steve Greene, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025
However, economists have questioned the approach, with some saying the tariffs are arbitrary and others raising concerns about the ways in which Mr. Trump's levies will drive up the price of everyday goods.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
The responses, submitted by a fairly arbitrary group of women, range from profound to half-hearted.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
Adjective
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That doesn’t portray a hero, but rather someone so arrogant as to invent his own law and appoint himself its executioner.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2025
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Fed Up in Illinois Dear Fed Up: Is Edie mean, arrogant, disobedient and rude in the presence of her parents, or has she been invited to spend time with your girls separately?—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Her old boss Raymond King (J.K. Simmons), someone Chris had helped, was shot dead in LA and left a wall of random evidence involving a broken family, human trafficking and global assassinations.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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The company, which started in 2015 and sells itself as a meal kit service, is actually closer to an online grocery store than a place that’s going to send you half an onion wrapped in plastic and a tiny baggy of cumin to make some so-so black bean tacos or a random stir fry.—
Carina Finn,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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However, because ecocriticism emerged in American studies prior to the field’s transnational turn, during a time that emphasized the localized subject as resistance to an oppressive nation-state, ecocritical thought has struggled to adapt.—
Abby Clayton,
JSTOR Daily,
29 Apr. 2025
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And this immensely oppressive power threatens the very foundation of legal representation in our country.—
Tom Dreisbach,
NPR,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Singapore, for instance, is highly economically free but sharply socially authoritarian.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
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To his critics, his centralization of power and ruthless purge of opponents put Malaysia on an authoritarian trajectory.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The independent agency is in charge of investigating and adjudicating complaints about unfair labor practices and protecting U.S. workers' rights to form unions.—
Jenna McLaughlin,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2025
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In sum, the Fisheries Order seeks to strengthen the U.S. fishing industry and support American fishermen by reducing regulatory burdens, combating unfair foreign trade practices, and enhancing domestic seafood production and exports.—
Alden Abbott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Orlando Sentinel Chicago has been inconsistent this season, most recently losing to Nashville SC 7-2, and has gone winless in the last five matches.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2025
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Many people liked the programming enough to tune in, but the quality of early educational broadcast experiments was inconsistent.—
Josh Shepperd,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The Wolves rose up and defeated the tyrannical FEDRA, forcing them to abandon the quarantine zone.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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That film focused on the 10th annual Hunger Games, which takes place decades before Snow becomes the tyrannical leader of Panem.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Add in at least $20 million to the athletics compensation pool via direct payments coming in the wake of the House settlement — the majority of which is ticketed for football at most P4 schools — and getting above $30 million isn’t unreasonable for a program like Ohio State or Texas.—
Sam Khan Jr.,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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Now, at full boil, travelers are increasingly complaining about an unreasonable lack of legroom and other basic comforts.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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