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anarchic

adjective

a-ˈnär-kik How to pronounce anarchic (audio)
variants also anarchical
Definition of anarchicnext
as in rebellious
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority the citywide blackouts caused anarchic looting and rioting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 anarchic The action was technical and inventive but also anarchic, in the image of its director, former Monty Python actor Terry Gilliam, by this point a big name in Hollywood. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 3 June 2026 No one embodies this anarchic sensibility like David Letterman, the original Late Show host, who recently joined Colbert to hurl CBS property off the studio’s roof, in a reprisal of a vintage bit. — Judy Berman, Time, 22 May 2026 In the ’90s, when Letterman took that vibe to CBS to launch The Late Show, his replacement, Conan O’Brien, brought an anarchic, surreal approach that went on to influence a new generation of comedians. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026 Europe’s three major institutions, Bologna, Paris and Oxford, welcomed between 1,000 and 2,500 students each in these early decades, and conditions were sprawling, anarchic and provisional. — Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anarchic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anarchic
  1. rebellious
  2. criminal
  3. disorderly
  4. illicit
  5. lawless
Adjective
  • Twenty-nine years have passed since then, yet the memory of the princess—an empathetic woman who defied convention, vulnerable yet rebellious, and imbued with a profound humanity—remains vivid and very much alive in the eyes of the entire world.
    — Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Next month, broader audiences will discover Halkias’s rebellious brand of humor with Uncle Stav, his latest Netflix standup special, a follow-up to 2023’s Fat Rascal.
    — Jonathan Borge, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • Initially arrested and charged in connection with Houston’s death in fall 2025, Franklin has also been charged in two additional criminal incidents.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The probe echoes investigations into the deaths of actor Matthew Perry and rapper Mac Miller, both of which resulted in criminal charges for their respective drug suppliers.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Betty Laura Zapata | Bloomberg | Getty Images The growing threat posed by advanced artificial intelligence models could trigger a disorderly correction in global financial markets, according to Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Bessent’s maneuvers are distinct, some observers say, by not being prompted by crisis or particularly disorderly market conditions.
    — Christopher Anstey, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of disorderly
Adjective
  • In Virginia’s Franklin County, Henry Law made the switch from illicit moonshine production to commercial sales.
    — Cole Reynolds, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Johnny’s undercover mission leads to an unexpected bromance as he gets drawn into his target’s world of illicit thrills.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • Maryland leaders must make clear that brutality and lawless intimidation will not be tolerated.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Everybody on our side understands that impeachment is a critical tool in the toolbox for constitutional self-defense against a president acting like a king, an imperious, lawless, arrogant king.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of lawless

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anarch
anarchic
anarchism
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Cite this Entry

“Anarchic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anarchic. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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