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
Critics will argue that complexity cannot be rushed, that every deal has its idiosyncrasies, that thirty days is an arbitrary number.
—
George Heller, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Legal pathways should be clear and not dictated by arbitrary quotas or economic privilege.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
The fundamental processes governing brain health — genetics, neural and synaptic plasticity, and neuroinflammation — do not respect the arbitrary boundaries drawn between neurology and psychiatry.
—Eric J. Nestler, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026
White-Jacket did cause a stir with its discussion of the arbitrary and cruel use of flogging in the US Navy.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
George Heller, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Legal pathways should be clear and not dictated by arbitrary quotas or economic privilege.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
The fundamental processes governing brain health — genetics, neural and synaptic plasticity, and neuroinflammation — do not respect the arbitrary boundaries drawn between neurology and psychiatry.
—Eric J. Nestler, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026
White-Jacket did cause a stir with its discussion of the arbitrary and cruel use of flogging in the US Navy.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
Adjective
-
Not even the pork choppers were as arrogant and scornful of voting rights as the current mob.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
-
Of course, David went on to build one of the most illustrious careers in television with characters who are often arrogant, petty and unlikable by traditional media standards.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Tennessee Titans went back to the streets quizzing random people in their schedule reveal in a twist to the team’s 2023 schedule reveal.—
Teresa M. Walker,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
In 2019, Mohsin went to pick up his mother at her vegetable stand in Nyala, South Darfur, when armed men stormed the area and shot villagers at random.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Beyond its pleasures as a noir, the chronicle of Kolechko’s fight against nascent Soviet power easily reminds one of present-day Ukraine’s struggle to preserve its dignity in the face of oppressive forces.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
But the sweltering, sticky, oppressive facepalm of summer doesn’t make the other seasons more palatable.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bonta pushes back against FIFA ticketing practices In his Wednesday letter to the federation, Bonta emphasized California’s consumer protection laws against unfair competition and false advertising.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
-
But Oklahoma City has raised the standard to an almost unfair level.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
So how do teams turn scattered tactics into a coherent system?—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
In that case, most areas will see scattered rain, but the more robust cells could produce brief, heavy downpours.—
Ahmad Bajjey,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
The show, which featured a sizzling performance by Walton Goggins, as an authoritarian vigilante, was an avant-garde breakthrough for television.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Given the authoritarian nature of the government and its control of the media, the full, brutal extent of these crackdowns are never seen by those inside the country, much less by foreigners.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
The inconsistent role wreaked havoc with his shot.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Approval processes often depend on manual back-and-forth, while visibility beyond tier one suppliers is inconsistent at best.—
Alex Saric,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Joaquin Phoenix's villainous performance as the tyrannical emperor Commodus earned him an Academy Award nomination.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
-
At the same time, the list of what a child needs has become exhaustive and tyrannical.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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