peremptory
adjective
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Definition of peremptory
1a : putting an end to or precluding a right of action, debate, or delay specifically : not providing an opportunity to show cause why one should not comply a peremptory mandamus
b : admitting of no contradiction
2 : expressive of urgency or command a peremptory call
3a : characterized by often imperious or arrogant self-assurance how insolent of late he is become, how proud, how peremptory— William Shakespeare
b : indicative of a peremptory attitude or nature : haughty a peremptory tone peremptory disregard of an objection
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Other Words from peremptory
-ˌrem(p)-ˈtȯr-ə-lē
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adverb
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noun
Synonyms for peremptory
Synonyms
authoritarian, authoritative, autocratic (also autocratical), bossy, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful, overbearing, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous
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Examples of peremptory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Evans has been accused of using peremptory strikes to keep black people off Mississippi juries. — Michael Harriot, The Root, "Whiteness Is a Superpower," 15 June 2018 As The Register points out, what’s unusual here is the peremptory nature of the Commission’s ruling. — James Vincent, The Verge, "UK companies and residents will be stripped of .EU domains after Brexit," 30 Mar. 2018 Their lack of rapport was evident in the peremptory way the president fired him. — Mark Landler, Maggie Haberman And Gardiner Harris, New York Times, "In Replacing Tillerson With Pompeo, Trump Turns to Loyalists Who Reflect ‘America First’ Views," 13 Mar. 2018 His peremptory order also unseated Cyril Magnin, the city’s official greeter and the couple’s host, and his daughter Ellen Newman, who also had an ice cream cone in hand. — Johnny Miller, San Francisco Chronicle, "Corpse found in crawl space near Tenderloin restaurant, 1993," 14 Mar. 2018 In this one, the first of a series published from 1935 to 1961, readers are introduced to a nervous Londoner named Pongo Twistleton, whose orderly life is disarrayed by the visit of his peremptory and mischievous uncle Fred from the country. — Jesse Green, New York Times, "Review: Surprise Lessons From John Lithgow’s ‘Stories by Heart’," 11 Jan. 2018 And power, as it is exercised within the world’s largest political group, is ruthless, peremptory and cloaked. — Andrew Browne, WSJ, "Ruthless and Cloaked: Beijing Pushes Its Secretive Power Abroad," 24 Oct. 2017 By turns peremptory and sweet, Godinez is great at wrangling helpers, voluntary and reluctant. — Tony Adler, Chicago Reader, "Spoiler alert: this Quixote comes to a bad end," 11 Oct. 2017 His prosecutor, a district attorney named Joseph Briley, came to the case with a reputation for using peremptory strikes during jury selection in a racially discriminatory fashion. — Andrew Cohen, Esquire, "Why I Believe the Supreme Court Needs to Stop This Georgia Execution," 14 Sep. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'peremptory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for peremptory
peremptory
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of peremptory
—used to describe an order, command, etc., that you must obey without any questions or excuses
: having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they should be obeyed without question
See the full definition for peremptory in the English Language Learners Dictionary
peremptory
adjective
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Legal Definition of peremptory
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : permitting no dispute, alternative, or delay specifically : not providing an opportunity to show cause why one should not comply when the right to require the performance of the act is clear and it is apparent that no valid excuse can be given for not performing it, a peremptory mandamus may be allowed — Revised Statutes of Nebraska
2 : not requiring cause — see also peremptory challenge at challenge
Other Words from peremptory
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adverb
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noun
peremptory
nounLegal Definition of peremptory (Entry 2 of 2)
: peremptory challenge at challenge
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