arbitrariness

noun

Definition of arbitrarinessnext
as in volatility

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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 arbitrariness Extreme violence is now a large part of this repertoire of arbitrariness. — Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 9 Apr. 2026 To live in greater Los Angeles is to embrace the arbitrariness of it all. — Meghan Daum, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026 In an effort to construct a system of law that could prevent arbitrary outcomes, the court ended up making room for plenty of arbitrariness in who was allowed to live and who was sentenced to die. — Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026 During the pandemic, Lowe, the father of two boys, wrestled with establishing safety measures at Benjamin, and he was struck by the arbitrariness of many health protocols. — Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 The execution of Jesus reveals the utter arbitrariness of political power. — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Apr. 2026 As algorithms replace human deciders, HAI-EIS fellow Kathleen Creel argues arbitrariness at scale is morally and legally problematic. — IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrariness
  1. volatility
  2. fickleness
  3. eccentricity
  4. irregularity
  5. inconstancy
Noun
  • Alan Greenspan’s passing is useful not as the subject of my column, but as a marker of an era when many professionals believed large institutions could absorb volatility on their behalf.
    — Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Between flights and investor meetings, the executive carves out time to explain economic swings, market volatility, and tech trends, all while touting Blackstone’s global reach.
    — Rachel Ventresca, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Definition of volatility
Noun
  • Early also has a larger target in view, the fickleness of internet celebrity, a lure that often comes with self-harm.
    — Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • Harris drove in three runs in the 11-5 win, offering a reminder of baseball’s fickleness.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Definition of fickleness
Noun
  • Director Craig Gillespie — whose impressive filmography has included I Tonya, Lars & The Real Girl, Pam & Tommy and Cruella — has proved to be a master at letting characters breathe in all their eccentricity.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 24 June 2026
  • The stylistic eccentricities have been dialed back, including the use of old Hollywood film clips to reflect the action and possibly the thoughts of its main character, a cinephile from space, who is both practicing and enacting the work of a private detective.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Definition of eccentricity
Noun
  • These variations are common, as the heart rate tends to speed up and get more regular during periods of stress, and become slower and allow more irregularity when relaxed.
    — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • Others are chasing answers for chronic bloating, pain or irregularity that no doctor has been able to explain.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Definition of irregularity
Noun
  • Scientific and engineering advances don't do well in the face of such wild swings and inconstancy.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Europeans, awakened to the danger of American inconstancy, are scrambling to spend trillions more on defense in coming years.
    — Adam Rasmi, Time, 20 June 2025
Definition of inconstancy

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Cite this Entry

“Arbitrariness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrariness. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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