* Descriptive: The sun glinted off the dry, dusty bed of the arroyo, a testament to the recent drought.
* Narrative: After a sudden downpour, the normally dry arroyo transformed into a raging torrent, sweeping away everything in its path.
* Figurative: Her anger flowed through her like a powerful arroyo, washing away any pretense of calm.
* Technical: The engineers determined that the arroyo's width and depth were insufficient to handle the anticipated floodwaters.
* Historical: The ancient pueblo ruins were nestled near a deep arroyo, providing protection and a source of water.
The specific context will determine the best way to use "arroyo" in a sentence.