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
Such candor pressures policymakers to rethink arbitrary and volatile trade barriers for an inflation-sensitive electorate.
—
Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Businesses now live in fear of retroactive rulings, arbitrary penalties and endless audits.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
The risks include wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure.
—Nick Butler, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2025
Politics, race and gender do intersect with sports and should be discussed, but a game show that doles out arbitrary points for arguments and mutes people for sport never felt quite right as a forum.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Businesses now live in fear of retroactive rulings, arbitrary penalties and endless audits.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
The risks include wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure.
—Nick Butler, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2025
Politics, race and gender do intersect with sports and should be discussed, but a game show that doles out arbitrary points for arguments and mutes people for sport never felt quite right as a forum.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
Adjective
-
The exiled poet was criticized for his arrogant attempts to influence British and American foreign policy.—
Graham Robb,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2025
-
There is something dangerously, provocatively arrogant about his glorified gang leader looks.—
Timothy Crouse,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Avoid long strings of random numbers, special characters or irrelevant details.—
Nick Zviadadze,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
-
Previous studies landed on either side of the one coin: the formation was random, or that the animals deliberately took up positions that protected vulnerable animals from attack.—
Bronwyn Thompson,
New Atlas,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
More than 60 years ago, my parents fled Cuba for the United States, seeking freedom from an oppressive regime that dictated what businesses produced and how products were priced.—
Carlos Cubelo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
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The film follows a 40-year-old widowed nurse named Mahnaz, who is struggling with a rebellious son and other complications in a heavily oppressive patriarchal context.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
But then again, almost everything Trump does is right out of the authoritarian playbook.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 June 2025
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Any center of liberal and free thought from pop music to Ivy League universities is vulnerable to authoritarian impulses.—
Stephen Collinson,
CNN Money,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Yes, deploying them can help U.S. manufacturers compete against the unfair, subsidized trade practices of other countries.—
Ethan Karp,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Many prominent advocates for excluding transgender girls from sports praised Dhillon’s actions last week as a bold move to protect cisgender girls from unfair competition.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Royals’ offense has been inconsistent this season.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2025
-
Without clear boundaries, AI agents may act in ways that are inconsistent with business rules, brand voice or regulatory requirements.—
Alan Ranger,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
The judiciary is the last obstacle to a president with designs on tyrannical rule.—
Sonam Sheth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 May 2025
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Coupled with his hateful rhetoric, threats, lies, erratic policies, trampling of the Constitution and abnormal fascination with childish superlatives, tyrannical figures and Soviet-era style military parades, there’s much to be concerned about.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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The vast majority of post commenters assured the OP that her feelings are completely valid and that her mother is being unreasonable.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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But leading the team to the Finals is not an unreasonable request.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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