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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arbitrary
The critical work of ensuring that those who commit serious crimes are punished ought not fall prey to arbitrary technicalities.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025
Clarity and forewarning will reduce anxiety among our guests and help eliminate concern over arbitrary enforcement.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Right-wing people choosing to pick on LGBTQ folks was almost arbitrary.
—Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2025
The energy is used not to create goods or services but to solve arbitrary puzzles that sustain speculative networks.
—Eric Solis, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for arbitrary 
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025
Clarity and forewarning will reduce anxiety among our guests and help eliminate concern over arbitrary enforcement.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Right-wing people choosing to pick on LGBTQ folks was almost arbitrary.
—Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2025
The energy is used not to create goods or services but to solve arbitrary puzzles that sustain speculative networks.
—Eric Solis, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
Adjective
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Saxon, for instance, is filling the same spoiled, arrogant space as Jake Lacy’s Shane from Season One.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
-
From director James Ashcroft (Coming Home in the Dark), who co-wrote the script with Eli Kent, The Rule of Jenny Pen centers on arrogant judge Stefan Mortensen (Rush), who has to live in a retirement home after a near-fatal stroke leaves him partially paralyzed.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Experts say the four recent accidents should not be viewed as a systemic, nationwide problem, but rather as four random events that happened to cluster together in time.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
TIME,
11 Feb. 2025
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If something feels off, like a job that sounds too good to be true, a random Teams message with a sketchy link or an interview that is just a chat, trust your instincts.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Currently, asylum seekers who committed crimes seen as political in nature—i.e. toward an oppressive regime—could be granted asylum, as could those guilty of misdemeanors.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
-
But the show pulls back just enough on the oppressive horror vibes of Season Two without losing a perpetual sense of unease from those scenes.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Serbia’s authoritarian leader should be riding high, lifted by economic growth that is four times the European average, falling unemployment and steadily rising wages.—
Andrew Higgins,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2025
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Amid the authoritarian typhoon of Donald Trump’s first month in office, the Democratic Party is attempting to position itself as the front line of anti-MAGA resistance.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Over the last year, however, transgender athletes have been targeted by critics who say their participation in women’s sports is unfair and a potential safety risk.—
Eric Olson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Donovan, the team president, suggests that some of the assessments were unfair but says that the Chiefs’ leadership took the report card seriously and has taken action to remedy players’ concerns.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Forbes,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Especially if his team is still so maddeningly inconsistent.—
Arthur Staple,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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Although Mitchell's overall output has been inconsistent in recent seasons, his defensive versatility has remained a major strength.—
Nathan Kamal,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The forthcoming Sunrise on the Reaping follows Collins' fourth book The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which explored the early world of Coriolanus Snow — who later went on to become the infamous, tyrannical president of Panem.—
Staff Author,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
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King Saran Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) will portray the tyrannical king who is also Amari and Inan's father.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In response to Kelley calling the union demands unreasonable, Lacey said the president's comments were insulting.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA TODAY,
6 Feb. 2025
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The share of frisks and fuller searches complying with the ruling — and the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment guarantee against unreasonable searches and seizures — were lower than the stop numbers.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to arbitrary
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Cite this Entry
“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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