diff --git a/cmd/constant.go b/cmd/constant.go
index 98091704..ee177717 100644
--- a/cmd/constant.go
+++ b/cmd/constant.go
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ var defaultValue = ""
 var indent = 2
 var overwriteFlag = false
 var autoCreateFlag = true
-var appendFlag = false
-var overwriteArrays = false
+var arrayMergeStrategyFlag = "update"
 var verbose = false
 var version = false
 var docIndex = "0"
diff --git a/cmd/merge.go b/cmd/merge.go
index baf5abc9..3572d85b 100644
--- a/cmd/merge.go
+++ b/cmd/merge.go
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@ func createMergeCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	var cmdMerge = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "merge [initial_yaml_file] [additional_yaml_file]...",
 		Aliases: []string{"m"},
-		Short:   "yq m [--inplace/-i] [--doc/-d index] [--overwrite/-x] [--append/-a] sample.yaml sample2.yaml",
+		Short:   "yq m [--inplace/-i] [--doc/-d index] [--overwrite/-x] [--arrayMerge/-a strategy] sample.yaml sample2.yaml",
 		Example: `
 yq merge things.yaml other.yaml
 yq merge --inplace things.yaml other.yaml
 yq m -i things.yaml other.yaml
 yq m --overwrite things.yaml other.yaml
 yq m -i -x things.yaml other.yaml
-yq m -i -a things.yaml other.yaml
+yq m -i -a=append things.yaml other.yaml
 yq m -i --autocreate=false things.yaml other.yaml
       `,
 		Long: `Updates the yaml file by adding/updating the path(s) and value(s) from additional yaml file(s).
@@ -32,9 +32,8 @@ If append flag is set then existing arrays will be merged with the arrays from e
 	cmdMerge.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&writeInplace, "inplace", "i", false, "update the yaml file inplace")
 	cmdMerge.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&overwriteFlag, "overwrite", "x", false, "update the yaml file by overwriting existing values")
 	cmdMerge.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&autoCreateFlag, "autocreate", "c", true, "automatically create any missing entries")
-	cmdMerge.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&appendFlag, "append", "a", false, "update the yaml file by appending array values")
+	cmdMerge.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&arrayMergeStrategyFlag, "array", "a", "update", "array merge strategy (update/append/overwrite)")
 	cmdMerge.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&docIndex, "doc", "d", "0", "process document index number (0 based, * for all documents)")
-	cmdMerge.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&overwriteArrays, "overwriteArrays", "", false, "overwrite arrays rather than update recursively")
 	return cmdMerge
 }
 
@@ -42,9 +41,9 @@ If append flag is set then existing arrays will be merged with the arrays from e
 * We don't deeply traverse arrays when appending a merge, instead we want to
 * append the entire array element.
  */
-func createReadFunctionForMerge() func(*yaml.Node) ([]*yqlib.NodeContext, error) {
+func createReadFunctionForMerge(arrayMergeStrategy yqlib.ArrayMergeStrategy) func(*yaml.Node) ([]*yqlib.NodeContext, error) {
 	return func(dataBucket *yaml.Node) ([]*yqlib.NodeContext, error) {
-		return lib.GetForMerge(dataBucket, "**", !appendFlag, overwriteArrays)
+		return lib.GetForMerge(dataBucket, "**", arrayMergeStrategy)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -54,13 +53,25 @@ func mergeProperties(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	if len(args) < 1 {
 		return errors.New("Must provide at least 1 yaml file")
 	}
+	var arrayMergeStrategy yqlib.ArrayMergeStrategy
+
+	switch arrayMergeStrategyFlag {
+	case "update":
+		arrayMergeStrategy = yqlib.UpdateArrayMergeStrategy
+	case "append":
+		arrayMergeStrategy = yqlib.AppendArrayMergeStrategy
+	case "overwrite":
+		arrayMergeStrategy = yqlib.OverwriteArrayMergeStrategy
+	default:
+		return errors.New("Array merge strategy must be one of: update/append/overwrite")
+	}
 
 	if len(args) > 1 {
 		// first generate update commands from the file
 		var filesToMerge = args[1:]
 
 		for _, fileToMerge := range filesToMerge {
-			matchingNodes, errorProcessingFile := doReadYamlFile(fileToMerge, createReadFunctionForMerge(), false, 0)
+			matchingNodes, errorProcessingFile := doReadYamlFile(fileToMerge, createReadFunctionForMerge(arrayMergeStrategy), false, 0)
 			if errorProcessingFile != nil {
 				return errorProcessingFile
 			}
@@ -70,14 +81,14 @@ func mergeProperties(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 				yqlib.DebugNode(matchingNode.Node)
 			}
 			for _, matchingNode := range matchingNodes {
-				mergePath := lib.MergePathStackToString(matchingNode.PathStack, appendFlag)
+				mergePath := lib.MergePathStackToString(matchingNode.PathStack, arrayMergeStrategy)
 				updateCommands = append(updateCommands, yqlib.UpdateCommand{
 					Command:   "merge",
 					Path:      mergePath,
 					Value:     matchingNode.Node,
 					Overwrite: overwriteFlag,
 					// dont update the content for nodes midway, only leaf nodes
-					DontUpdateNodeContent: matchingNode.IsMiddleNode && (!overwriteArrays || matchingNode.Node.Kind != yaml.SequenceNode),
+					DontUpdateNodeContent: matchingNode.IsMiddleNode && (arrayMergeStrategy != yqlib.OverwriteArrayMergeStrategy || matchingNode.Node.Kind != yaml.SequenceNode),
 				})
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/merge_test.go b/cmd/merge_test.go
index 94d2129c..1729928e 100644
--- a/cmd/merge_test.go
+++ b/cmd/merge_test.go
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func TestMergeOverwriteDeepExampleCmd(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestMergeAppendCmd(t *testing.T) {
 	cmd := getRootCommand()
-	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, "merge --autocreate=false --append ../examples/data1.yaml ../examples/data2.yaml")
+	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, "merge --autocreate=false --array=append ../examples/data1.yaml ../examples/data2.yaml")
 	if result.Error != nil {
 		t.Error(result.Error)
 	}
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ func TestMergeAppendArraysCmd(t *testing.T) {
 	defer test.RemoveTempYamlFile(mergeFilename)
 
 	cmd := getRootCommand()
-	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, fmt.Sprintf("merge --append -d* %s %s", filename, mergeFilename))
+	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, fmt.Sprintf("merge --array=append -d* %s %s", filename, mergeFilename))
 	if result.Error != nil {
 		t.Error(result.Error)
 	}
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ usage:
 
 func TestMergeOverwriteAndAppendCmd(t *testing.T) {
 	cmd := getRootCommand()
-	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, "merge --autocreate=false --append --overwrite ../examples/data1.yaml ../examples/data2.yaml")
+	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, "merge --autocreate=false --array=append --overwrite ../examples/data1.yaml ../examples/data2.yaml")
 	if result.Error != nil {
 		t.Error(result.Error)
 	}
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ b: [6]`
 	defer test.RemoveTempYamlFile(mergeFilename)
 
 	cmd := getRootCommand()
-	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, fmt.Sprintf("merge --autocreate=false --overwriteArrays --overwrite %s %s", filename, mergeFilename))
+	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, fmt.Sprintf("merge --autocreate=false --array=overwrite --overwrite %s %s", filename, mergeFilename))
 	if result.Error != nil {
 		t.Error(result.Error)
 	}
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ c:
 
 func TestMergeRootArraysCmd(t *testing.T) {
 	cmd := getRootCommand()
-	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, "merge --append ../examples/sample_array.yaml ../examples/sample_array_2.yaml")
+	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, "merge --array=append ../examples/sample_array.yaml ../examples/sample_array_2.yaml")
 	if result.Error != nil {
 		t.Error(result.Error)
 	}
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ func TestMergeRootArraysCmd(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestMergeOverwriteArraysCmd(t *testing.T) {
 	cmd := getRootCommand()
-	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, "merge --overwriteArrays ../examples/sample_array.yaml ../examples/sample_array_2.yaml")
+	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, "merge --array=overwrite ../examples/sample_array.yaml ../examples/sample_array_2.yaml")
 	if result.Error != nil {
 		t.Error(result.Error)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/lib.go b/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
index 589e8043..04ba8577 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
@@ -58,15 +58,15 @@ func DebugNode(value *yaml.Node) {
 }
 
 func pathStackToString(pathStack []interface{}) string {
-	return mergePathStackToString(pathStack, false)
+	return mergePathStackToString(pathStack, UpdateArrayMergeStrategy)
 }
 
-func mergePathStackToString(pathStack []interface{}, appendArrays bool) string {
+func mergePathStackToString(pathStack []interface{}, arrayMergeStrategy ArrayMergeStrategy) string {
 	var sb strings.Builder
 	for index, path := range pathStack {
 		switch path.(type) {
 		case int, int64:
-			if appendArrays {
+			if arrayMergeStrategy == AppendArrayMergeStrategy {
 				sb.WriteString("[+]")
 			} else {
 				sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("[%v]", path))
@@ -136,12 +136,12 @@ func guessKind(head interface{}, tail []interface{}, guess yaml.Kind) yaml.Kind
 
 type YqLib interface {
 	Get(rootNode *yaml.Node, path string) ([]*NodeContext, error)
-	GetForMerge(rootNode *yaml.Node, path string, deeplyTraverseArrays bool, overwriteArray bool) ([]*NodeContext, error)
+	GetForMerge(rootNode *yaml.Node, path string, arrayMergeStrategy ArrayMergeStrategy) ([]*NodeContext, error)
 	Update(rootNode *yaml.Node, updateCommand UpdateCommand, autoCreate bool) error
 	New(path string) yaml.Node
 
 	PathStackToString(pathStack []interface{}) string
-	MergePathStackToString(pathStack []interface{}, appendArrays bool) string
+	MergePathStackToString(pathStack []interface{}, arrayMergeStrategy ArrayMergeStrategy) string
 }
 
 type lib struct {
@@ -162,9 +162,9 @@ func (l *lib) Get(rootNode *yaml.Node, path string) ([]*NodeContext, error) {
 	return navigationStrategy.GetVisitedNodes(), error
 }
 
-func (l *lib) GetForMerge(rootNode *yaml.Node, path string, deeplyTraverseArrays bool, overwriteArray bool) ([]*NodeContext, error) {
+func (l *lib) GetForMerge(rootNode *yaml.Node, path string, arrayMergeStrategy ArrayMergeStrategy) ([]*NodeContext, error) {
 	var paths = l.parser.ParsePath(path)
-	navigationStrategy := ReadForMergeNavigationStrategy(deeplyTraverseArrays, overwriteArray)
+	navigationStrategy := ReadForMergeNavigationStrategy(arrayMergeStrategy)
 	navigator := NewDataNavigator(navigationStrategy)
 	error := navigator.Traverse(rootNode, paths)
 	return navigationStrategy.GetVisitedNodes(), error
@@ -174,8 +174,8 @@ func (l *lib) PathStackToString(pathStack []interface{}) string {
 	return pathStackToString(pathStack)
 }
 
-func (l *lib) MergePathStackToString(pathStack []interface{}, appendArrays bool) string {
-	return mergePathStackToString(pathStack, appendArrays)
+func (l *lib) MergePathStackToString(pathStack []interface{}, arrayMergeStrategy ArrayMergeStrategy) string {
+	return mergePathStackToString(pathStack, arrayMergeStrategy)
 }
 
 func (l *lib) New(path string) yaml.Node {
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/lib_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/lib_test.go
index 4adf7df5..52e7933c 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/lib_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/lib_test.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func TestLib(t *testing.T) {
 		array[0] = "a"
 		array[1] = 0
 		array[2] = "b"
-		got := subject.MergePathStackToString(array, true)
+		got := subject.MergePathStackToString(array, AppendArrayMergeStrategy)
 		test.AssertResult(t, `a.[+].b`, got)
 	})
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/merge_navigation_strategy.go b/pkg/yqlib/merge_navigation_strategy.go
index 9d2934fd..bf87f9f0 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/merge_navigation_strategy.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/merge_navigation_strategy.go
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@ package yqlib
 
 import "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 
+type ArrayMergeStrategy uint32
+
+const (
+	UpdateArrayMergeStrategy ArrayMergeStrategy = 1 << iota
+	OverwriteArrayMergeStrategy
+	AppendArrayMergeStrategy
+)
+
 func MergeNavigationStrategy(updateCommand UpdateCommand, autoCreate bool) NavigationStrategy {
 	return &NavigationStrategyImpl{
 		visitedNodes: []*NodeContext{},
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/read_for_merge_navigation_strategy.go b/pkg/yqlib/read_for_merge_navigation_strategy.go
index 6364884f..73061338 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/read_for_merge_navigation_strategy.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/read_for_merge_navigation_strategy.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package yqlib
 
 import "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 
-func ReadForMergeNavigationStrategy(deeplyTraverseArrays bool, overwriteArray bool) NavigationStrategy {
+func ReadForMergeNavigationStrategy(arrayMergeStrategy ArrayMergeStrategy) NavigationStrategy {
 	return &NavigationStrategyImpl{
 		visitedNodes: []*NodeContext{},
 		pathParser:   NewPathParser(),
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ func ReadForMergeNavigationStrategy(deeplyTraverseArrays bool, overwriteArray bo
 			return nil
 		},
 		shouldDeeplyTraverse: func(nodeContext NodeContext) bool {
-			if nodeContext.Node.Kind == yaml.SequenceNode && overwriteArray {
+			if nodeContext.Node.Kind == yaml.SequenceNode && arrayMergeStrategy == OverwriteArrayMergeStrategy {
 				nodeContext.IsMiddleNode = false
 				return false
 			}
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func ReadForMergeNavigationStrategy(deeplyTraverseArrays bool, overwriteArray bo
 					isInArray = false
 				}
 			}
-			return deeplyTraverseArrays || !isInArray
+			return arrayMergeStrategy == UpdateArrayMergeStrategy || !isInArray
 		},
 	}
 }