as in capriciously
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Recent Examples of arbitrarily
That standard would uphold the NCAA’s interpretation of the waiver rule so long as the NCAA didn’t act arbitrarily or capriciously, either of which is difficult to show.
—
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2026
There are questions about the rights of citizens versus non-citizens, the rights of the US to pull visas arbitrarily.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Federal agents monitored and arrested people arbitrarily.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Of the more than 800 people considered arbitrarily detained for political reasons, the government has released only 49 as of Monday afternoon, according to human rights organization Penal Forum.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
France had maintained Vinatier was arbitrarily detained and had called for his release.
—Reuters, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026
And atoms and molecules retain energy even if they’re cooled arbitrarily close to absolute zero.
—George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2026
Lawyers for the state said Humphreys has failed to show how his lawyers have been restricted from preparing for his upcoming execution because of COVID-19 or that the state has arbitrarily chosen to exclude him from the agreement.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
According to the human rights group Foro Penal, more than 800 people remain imprisoned for political reasons, and over 18,000 have been detained arbitrarily since 2014.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2026
There are questions about the rights of citizens versus non-citizens, the rights of the US to pull visas arbitrarily.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Federal agents monitored and arrested people arbitrarily.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Of the more than 800 people considered arbitrarily detained for political reasons, the government has released only 49 as of Monday afternoon, according to human rights organization Penal Forum.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
France had maintained Vinatier was arbitrarily detained and had called for his release.
—Reuters, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026
And atoms and molecules retain energy even if they’re cooled arbitrarily close to absolute zero.
—George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2026
Lawyers for the state said Humphreys has failed to show how his lawyers have been restricted from preparing for his upcoming execution because of COVID-19 or that the state has arbitrarily chosen to exclude him from the agreement.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
According to the human rights group Foro Penal, more than 800 people remain imprisoned for political reasons, and over 18,000 have been detained arbitrarily since 2014.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrarily
Adverb
-
That standard would uphold the NCAA’s interpretation of the waiver rule so long as the NCAA didn’t act arbitrarily or capriciously, either of which is difficult to show.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
With fewer large particles to scatter light indiscriminately, the colors that reach your eyes can appear richer.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Nevertheless, this branding has forced it to be painted with the same brush, and in today's market, anything associated with automation is being sold off indiscriminately.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Journalists and pundits tend to throw around plaudits a little too carelessly these days.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2026
-
As flawed generative AI tools continue to be used carelessly, without the necessary follow-up work of checking for hallucinations, experts warn that agencies like NWS could inflict serious damage to their reputation and authority.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
So far, he’s been spotted draped in a full-length, white fluffy coat and fire engine-red hat and gloves, watching the women’s downhill race, and casually chatting with onlookers at the curling mixed doubles, adorned in a zip-jacket emblazoned with Team USA players’ faces.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
What never occurred to me was the need to explicitly ban vaping until my date casually produced a crackling Juul mid-screening.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Others have tried to explain the collapse as a real, spontaneous, randomly timed physical event that picks out a unique outcome from among the many possibilities — although just what factors would cause such a physical collapse are unclear.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The mysterious case of a chain-saw-wielding vandal who appeared to randomly terrorize trees in and around downtown Los Angeles last year has come to an anticlimactic close.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The whimsically nostalgic Lenox Spice Village has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years as a new generation falls in love with the miniature porcelain Victorian houses.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
15 Jan. 2026
-
More whimsically, it's known for a friendship between a cheetah and Labrador retriever that had a social media moment.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
He was even informally recognized by Hartford Hospital officials for touching so many lives in the transplant unit and being a role model, Thomas said.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Deadline understands the two parties have been communicating informally for several months to signal priorities and prime the pump ahead of time.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Political factions are steered by big personalities, and politicians jump promiscuously between parties.—
BEN BLAND,
Foreign Affairs,
13 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrarily. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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