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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arbitrary
This is not some arbitrary abstract statistical concept.
—
CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
So this isn't just an arbitrary theory; there is some evidence to it — or coincidences, believers say.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Those are clear violations of the Fourth Amendment’s safeguards against unreasonable searches and seizures, which were adopted to prevent the exercise of arbitrary government power.
—Yohuru Williams, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
The organizations call the rules arbitrary and warn that the bans harm a civilian population desperately in need of aid.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
So this isn't just an arbitrary theory; there is some evidence to it — or coincidences, believers say.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Those are clear violations of the Fourth Amendment’s safeguards against unreasonable searches and seizures, which were adopted to prevent the exercise of arbitrary government power.
—Yohuru Williams, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
The organizations call the rules arbitrary and warn that the bans harm a civilian population desperately in need of aid.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
Adjective
-
He is paired with an arrogant young partner (Lou), a second-generation political scion whose personality clashes sharply with his own.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
-
In the early years of his fame as a writer, Rushdie had something of a reputation for being prickly and arrogant, but Gibney’s portrait reveals a man mellowed by time and experience.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Instead, a suitcase and a random assortment of clothes disappeared along with her.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
-
PlayStation consoles rely on a type of dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, chips, which are in short supply as demand from artificial intelligence and data center operators increases.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Drawing from the histories of women detained for their political beliefs, the work explores how care, resistance and survival persist even under the most oppressive conditions.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Director Tony Williams masterfully curates a mood of oppressive dread from the opening minutes through the bloody climax and explosive final frames, making this one of the very best Australian horror films of all time.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These fears are well-founded, as authorities have previously executed many protesters following grossly unfair trials, while many others remain on death row.—
Hamid Kashani,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
-
And the company has committed a host of unfair labor practices, including firing a member of the bargaining committee, punishing a worker for filing a grievance against management and making changes to working conditions without giving the union notice, UFCW officials alleged.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
His scattered family, like so many others, reflects the extraordinary exodus of almost 8 million Venezuelans — regarded as the largest-ever displacement of people in the Americas.—
Mery Mogollon,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
More scattered sleet, snow and ice are expected for the afternoon, before widespread precipitation is predicted to return Saturday night.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In other words, diaspora activists may advocate positions that resonate with Western audiences, but find little support among those actually living under authoritarian rule.—
Michael Paarlberg,
The Conversation,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Trump’s steamrolling of anything, including the Constitution, that might impede his authoritarian project has made the limpness of the Democratic opposition more conspicuous.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That approach is inconsistent with Texas law and unfair to taxpayers.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Tagovailoa got benched last year because of his inconsistent performance and lack of velocity on his throws.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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They might also be saddened that 250 years after declaring independence from a tyrannical British king, the American system of government has arguably less democratic accountability for its leaders than the British one.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
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To be an Iranian today is to live within the memory and continuity of Persian civilization, to sustain an ethics of beauty and embody an act of resistance against an ugly and tyrannical Iran.—
Ramin Jahanbegloo,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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