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
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2
as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
the order of the names of the 10 semifinalists is entirely arbitrary
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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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Recent Examples of arbitrary
If laws are clear, fair, and applied consistently, protecting all of us from arbitrary power or injustice, the Republic will survive.
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Aron Solomon, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Along with the combination of music and video programming, Plex has also carved out a niche for consumers who maintain their own personal libraries but don’t want to surrender them in the more arbitrary streaming era.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
Examples include the awarding of government contracts without open bidding, arbitrary tax breaks, and the issuance of government licenses or mining concessions to friends.
—Michael Posner, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
The opposition attributed the release to the pressure placed on the regime when the cases were elevated to international courts because almost all the detentions had been arbitrary.
2.
—Russell Contreras, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for arbitrary 
Aron Solomon, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Along with the combination of music and video programming, Plex has also carved out a niche for consumers who maintain their own personal libraries but don’t want to surrender them in the more arbitrary streaming era.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
Examples include the awarding of government contracts without open bidding, arbitrary tax breaks, and the issuance of government licenses or mining concessions to friends.
—Michael Posner, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
The opposition attributed the release to the pressure placed on the regime when the cases were elevated to international courts because almost all the detentions had been arbitrary.
2.
—Russell Contreras, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
Adjective
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The arrogant millionaire heir James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) then has to deal with the quick-witted scholarship student, for better or worse.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
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The truth is that women often downplay their accomplishments to avoid being perceived as arrogant, but this approach can unintentionally undermine your professional growth.Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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People Magazine Investigates The shooting appeared random at first, but police eventually unspooled a strange plot involving Li's ex-wife and a bitter custody dispute over their son, Arik, who has severe disabilities stemming from a medical misdiagnosis early in his life.Liam Quinn, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
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Buyers now fill out a form and a random generator selects who gets the tickets.Kari McMahon, Billboard, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The ongoing siege at the Argentine embassy in Caracas is a stark reminder of the oppressive lengths to which Nicolás Maduro’s regime will go to silence dissent.David Smolansky, National Review, 12 Dec. 2024
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But that sensibility seems especially widespread right now at the tail end of an already challenging year, and on the precipice of what is bound to be an exhausting, oppressive period.James Factora, Them, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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If the impeachment is confirmed by the Constitutional Court, Yoon will become the fourth South Korean president — out of eight total — to be jailed or ousted since the nation democratized in 1987 after decades of authoritarian rule.Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
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Meanwhile, Georgia’s relations with the EU have deteriorated sharply in recent months as Brussels has alleged that the government had resorted to authoritarian measures and adopted pro-Russian stances.Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The suit involves five former participants in MrBeast's reality competition show and alleges multiple labor law violations, false advertising and unfair business practices.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
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The lawsuit alleges 34 causes of action, including copyright infringement, false advertising and violations of the Florida unfair trade practices law.Gene Maddaus, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Gruden won a Super Bowl against his former Raiders squad in his first year in Tampa, but the rest of his tenure was wildly inconsistent.Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Dec. 2024
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True, Anthony Richardson is wildly inconsistent but he’s got the big arm to burn the Broncos deep as Jameis Winston did before Denver’s bye.Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical twin emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2024
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This has created a chain reaction throughout the Middle East of all those who want to be free from this oppressive and tyrannical regime.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Left in the dust ‘Cruise’ driverless robot taxis are seen at a parking lot as California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) revokes its self-driving car permit and citing ‘unreasonable risk to public safety’ in San Francisco, California, USA on October 24, 2023.Kristian Burt, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
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To determine whether those amounts posed an unreasonable risk of harm, the agency compared them to a specific benchmark — the highest concentration of formaldehyde measured by government monitors in outdoor air between 2015 and 2020.Sharon Lerner and Al Shaw, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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