anarchic

adjective

an·​ar·​chic a-ˈnär-kik 

ə-

variants or less commonly anarchical

a-ˈnär-ki-kəl 

ə-

1

a

: of, relating to, or advocating anarchy

b

: likely to bring about anarchy

anarchic violence

2

: lacking order, regularity, or definiteness

anarchic art forms

anarchically

a-ˈnär-ki-k(ə-)lē 

ə-

adverb

Synonyms

• criminal
• illicit
• disorderly
• illegal
• felonious
• lawless
• unruly

Examples of anarchic in a Sentence

the citywide blackouts caused anarchic looting and rioting

Recent Examples on the Web

Amid the pillaging of homes, Roman magistrates were likely sent to the city to prevent an anarchic type of existence, based on ancient literary sources the authors referenced in the study. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025

But more than anything, anime offers an anarchic aesthetic, one that allows for a sort of unprecedented intensity and tempestuousness, thus offering a unique level of insight. —Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

The best moments of the night came when the polished Hollywood glamour of, say, Jamie Lee Curtis, brushed up against the anarchic comedy of the 2016 Brooklyn alt-comedy scene. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025

The show was conceived as a spiritual (but not official) successor to The Osbournes, the anarchic fly-on-the-wall series that aired on MTV between 2002 and 2005. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from New Latin anarchicus, from Medieval Latin anarchia anarchy + Latin -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for anarchic

• hierarchic
• oligarchic

Kids Definition

anarchic

adjective

an·​ar·​chic a-ˈnär-kik 

ə-

: of or relating to anarchy

anarchically

-ki-k(ə-)lē 

adverb