Arbitrarily

Arbitrarily describes something done, chosen, or decided without any clear reason, method, or principle; it's based on random choice or personal whim rather than logic or necessity. Actions taken arbitrarily often seem unfair or inconsistent because the underlying rationale isn't evident. Decisions are made without considering all available information or applying established rules. The impact of arbitrary choices can range from inconsequential to significantly disruptive, depending on the context.

Arbitrarily meaning with examples

• The teacher assigned grades arbitrarily, making no sense, often favouring one student. Students were completely baffled by the lack of a rubric, as the grades didn't reflect the quality of the work. This arbitrary assessment led to resentment and a feeling that their efforts were not valued or fairly considered. The class' morale dropped quickly.
• The security guard searched bags arbitrarily. Some people were checked while others walked right through the door, making people feel singled out, and annoyed by the inefficiency of the system. This arbitrary approach made it seem as though the rules didn't apply to everyone and the system was not being managed competently.
• The software randomly crashed after saving files. The software’s users were frustrated because the crashes occurred randomly and for seemingly no reason. Such an arbitrary behaviour made it impossible to rely on the system and the team's workflow was often interrupted, causing delays and making users lose data.
• The company increased prices arbitrarily, not based on any factor such as supply and demand. Customers were unhappy to see that the new prices didn’t follow any market patterns. The arbitrary hikes without prior warning made it seem that the company was taking advantage of its loyal customers.
• The editor chose the article arbitrarily to be published in a random order. There was no sense of the importance of a piece of work. Because of this arbitrary sequencing, the reader could not follow the narrative and the reader struggled to engage with the material.