arbitrary

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The A cap seems arbitrary and shifting to A-minuses feels inconsequential, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The DOJ has long claimed that the policy was not arbitrary but carefully laid out in a May 2025 email about “Courthouse Arrest Guidance and Case Adjudication.”

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

In her ruling, she said the government's designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk was "likely both contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious."

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

“Bad years for the S&P 500 are due to very specific factors, not just bad luck or arbitrary changes in investor sentiment,” said Nicholas Colas, co-founder of DataTrek, in commentary shared with MarketWatch on Tuesday.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

We shared other traits as well, alas: He was rebellious and resentful of authority, quick to rage at arbitrary power.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz