arbitrary

adjective

ˈär-bə-ˌtrer-ē How to pronounce arbitrary (audio)
Definition of arbitrarynext
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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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

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of arbitrary Rights groups have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in Tunisia since the EU agreement, including reports of collective expulsions, racial violence, arbitrary detention and abuses against Black migrants. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 This way, statistical confidence gets flagged earlier, so decisions don't wait on an arbitrary deadline, and underperforming variants get phased out automatically instead of running to completion for no reason. — Karan Sharma, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 In addition to being arbitrary, reductionist, and biased, classifying individuals as obese or overweight based on a single number ignores many complexities about body fat. — Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026 Its attempts to do so, most notably by interweaving elements of 1939’s The Wizard of Oz — including a CGI lion voiced by Colman Domingo — are heavy-handed acts of fan service that feel arbitrary. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arbitrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrary
  1. arrogant
  2. random
  3. oppressive
  4. unfair
  5. scattered
  6. authoritarian
  7. inconsistent
  8. tyrannical
Adjective
  • Each of these decisions laid the groundwork for the war on Iran today, one that started without a clear strategy on the arrogant expectation of a quick victory.
    — Alexander Langlois, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The data center industry is only one face of an arrogant oligarchy that people believe now runs Congress, the courts, the White House, state legislatures and local governments.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • This horror movie mostly just smelled of fake fog from a community theater production and occasionally you were startled by random bursts of air, once again pulling you from the events on screen.
    — Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • One episode explores several years in the life of a random Jason variant who simply tries to build a life for himself in a quiet world.
    — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of random
Adjective
  • Among those waiting to meet the president was Leon Czolgosz, a 28-year-old anarchist who considered the government oppressive.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • People seem to be craving the scent of something cooling and quenching, an olfactive promise that less oppressive weather lies ahead.
    — April Long, Allure, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppressive
Adjective
  • In recent days, the United States proposed new terms that were uneconomic, unfair and undermine the net benefits for Canada, and called into question the reliability of any deal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • And many of the 1970s nationalization of most major oil companies holdings in oil exporting nations were partly due to the sense that the original concession agreements were unfair.
    — Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfair
Adjective
  • The right words can turn scattered details into a workable plan.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The scattered rain on Tuesday morning was simply not widespread or heavy enough to provide meaningful relief for the ongoing fires or drought conditions.
    — Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of scattered
Adjective
  • A good number of them also have authoritarian governments, raising questions about the lack of accountability and due process to ensure the protection of the deportees’ rights.
    — Mark Banchereau, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The Gwangju Biennale was founded in 1994 to commemorate the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, during which hundreds of civilians were killed during a protest against the authoritarian military government’s brutal crackdown on civil rights.
    — Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of authoritarian
Adjective
  • The lawsuit says the decision was unlawful, unsupported by facts and inconsistent with the military’s past praise of Claude.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As a brief respite, the silly friend in your group chat, who keeps violently inconsistent hours, has shared something that will probably not break your heart, which seems as worthy an offering as any.
    — Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of inconsistent
Adjective
  • The 2015 action film, set in a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland, stars Theron as warrior Imperator Furiosa, who leads the daring escape of female prisoners from a tyrannical ruler.
    — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 23 Aug. 2026
  • That goes double for The Devil Wears Prada’s tyrannical Miranda Priestly, in which Streep turns an icy glare into a weapon tantamount to Leatherface’s chainsaw.
    — Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of tyrannical

Browse Nearby Words

arbitrariness
arbitrary
arbitrate
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Cite this Entry

“Arbitrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrary. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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