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

Last year, for the first time in more than 20 years, Tweedy, the anarchic Scottish clown, who, with his pratfalls and pet clothing iron, Keef, provided the glue to every Giffords Circus performance, was not part of the cast. —Air Mail, 28 June 2025

First, states live in an anarchic international system where no overarching authority exists to guarantee agreements and punish those who renege. —Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 25 June 2025

Clothes are a sign of civilization; nudity is anarchic. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 20 June 2025

Disney’s remake might be one of the year’s biggest May 22, 2025 That the animated anarchic alien would eventually get the live-action remake treatment was inevitable. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 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