arbitrary

arbitrary
01. Application of the death penalty is much too [arbitrary] to be allowed in a civilized society.
02. The government has been terrorizing people through [arbitrary] arrests and indefinite detentions.
03. If you don't explain your marking system to the students, it might be interpreted as being [arbitrary] and unfair.
04. Victims were chosen [arbitrarily] by the guerrillas, and then shot before the eyes of the terrified villagers.
05. At one time, [arbitrary] arrest and detention without trial were common features of many military dictatorships throughout Latin America.
06. It sometimes seems that our laws are [arbitrarily] enforced, depending on the mood of the judge on a particular day.
07. The meanings of symbols are [arbitrarily] determined by the people who create them.
08. Culture has been described as being based on [arbitrarily] assigned meanings that are shared by a society.
09. Someone once said that one look around us ought to show that all our [arbitrary] measures and bounds have been clamped on us by mankind.
10. Laurence Steinberg once suggested that what causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority, but the [arbitrary] use of power, with little explanation of the rules, and no involvement in decision-making.
11. Mortimer Adler once stated that freedom is the emancipation from the [arbitrary] rule of other men.
12. Speaking about drug use, Abbie Hoffman once remarked, "Understand that legal and illegal are political, and often [arbitrary] categorizations; use and abuse are medical, or clinical, distinctions."
13. George Jean Nathan once suggested that patriotism is often an [arbitrary] veneration of real estate above principles.
14. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that no one shall be subjected to [arbitrary] arrest, detention or exile.
15. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that no one shall be subjected to [arbitrary] interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation.
16. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that no one shall be [arbitrarily] deprived of his property.
17. [Arbitrary] restrictions on foreign qualifications by professional associations are equivalent to discimination.
18. Greenwich was [arbitrarily] established in 1884 as longitude 0 degrees.

Grammatical examples in English. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • arbitrary — ar·bi·trary / är bə ˌtrer ē/ adj 1: depending on individual discretion (as of a judge) and not fixed by standards, rules, or law the manner of punishment is arbitrary 2 a: not restrained or limited in the exercise of power an arbitrary government …   Law dictionary

  • Arbitrary — Ar bi*tra*ry, a. [L. arbitrarius, fr. arbiter: cf. F. arbitraire. See {Arbiter}.] 1. Depending on will or discretion; not governed by any fixed rules; as, an arbitrary decision; an arbitrary punishment. [1913 Webster] It was wholly arbitrary in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • arbitrary — [är′bə trer΄ē] adj. [L arbitrarius < arbiter, ARBITER] 1. not fixed by rules, but left to one s judgment or choice; discretionary [arbitrary decision, arbitrary judgment] 2. based on one s preference, notion, whim, etc.; capricious [young… …   English World dictionary

  • arbitrary — [adj1] whimsical, chance approximate, capricious, discretionary, erratic, fanciful, frivolous, inconsistent, injudicious, irrational, irresponsible, offhand, optional, random, subjective, supercilious, superficial, unaccountable, unreasonable,… …   New thesaurus

  • arbitrary — (adj.) early 15c., deciding by one s own discretion, from O.Fr. arbitraire (14c.) or directly from L. arbitrarius depending on the will, uncertain, from arbiter (see ARBITER (Cf. arbiter)). The original meaning gradually descended to capricious… …   Etymology dictionary

  • arbitrary — autocratic, *absolute, despotic, tyrannical, tyrannous Analogous words: *dictatorial, authoritarian, magisterial, oracular: domineering, *masterful, imperious, peremptory, imperative Antonyms: legitimate Contrasted words: *lawful, legal, licit …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • arbitrary — ► ADJECTIVE 1) based on random choice or personal whim. 2) (of power or authority) used without constraint; autocratic. DERIVATIVES arbitrarily adverb arbitrariness noun. ORIGIN Latin arbitrarius, from arbiter judge, supreme ruler …   English terms dictionary

  • Arbitrary — For the concept of arbitrariness in trademark law, see Trademark distinctiveness. Arbitrary is a term given to choices and actions which are considered to be done not by means of any underlying principle or logic, but by whim or some decidedly… …   Wikipedia

  • arbitrary — adjective Date: 15th century 1. depending on individual discretion (as of a judge) and not fixed by law < the manner of punishment is arbitrary > 2. a. not restrained or limited in the exercise of power ; ruling by abso …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • arbitrary — In an unreasonable manner, as fixed or done capriciously or at pleasure. Without adequate determining principle; not founded in the nature of things; nonrational; not done or acting according to reason or judgment; depending on the will alone;… …   Black's law dictionary

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