as in chaos
a state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority
the anarchy that the country experienced after the dictator drained the treasury and fled the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of anarchy
Throwing one’s hands up, in resignation or indifference, captures the anarchy that seems to characterize our digital lives.
—
Roger J. Kreuz, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
The country had devolved into anarchy and total uncertainty.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Flynn said the rally should have never been allowed to escalate to the point of anarchy.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
Other dystopian genre films like The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston, or World War Z, starring Brad Pitt, imagine the anarchy coming from a virus that breaks society and turns neighbors into literal zombies.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anarchy
Roger J. Kreuz, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
The country had devolved into anarchy and total uncertainty.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Flynn said the rally should have never been allowed to escalate to the point of anarchy.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
Other dystopian genre films like The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston, or World War Z, starring Brad Pitt, imagine the anarchy coming from a virus that breaks society and turns neighbors into literal zombies.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anarchy
Noun
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Packed with mistaken identities, overheard conversations, and joyful chaos, this beloved classic is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring comedies.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
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But some Iranian Americans fear that their native country could descend into chaos, as Iraq did after the 2003 American invasion.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Back then, neither of us could have foreseen the pandemic, Georgia’s growing political unrest, a war in neighboring Ukraine, or the collapse of several multi-brand retailers, which altogether has slowed down progress for Situationist and Georgian fashion more broadly.—
Lucy Maguire,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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Cruise lines may adjust itineraries due to security concerns, such as military action or civil unrest, along with other reasons like severe weather.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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While the president boasts 70%-plus approval ratings, many in Mexico are fed up with the rampant lawlessness.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
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The series primarily concerns Flint's efforts to wrangle his crew and protect the lawlessness of the island New Providence, as well as quests to attain treasure across the high seas.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Over the past year, the Justice Department has been in turmoil, with new leaders essentially gutting the public integrity and tax units and disbanding a task force designed to fight international corruption.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
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Trump has repeatedly praised Rodríguez’s cooperation with the United States and described her government as a partner in restoring order to the country after years of economic collapse and political turmoil.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Goetz understood this disorder not as the product of scant civic resources or state retreat but rather as the result of liberal misrule—do-gooder bureaucrats, failed social programs, and a city that had coddled the undeserving and the criminal.—
Heather Ann Thompson,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
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Soon, the story became buried in the avalanche of corruption and misrule that followed.—
Terence McNamee,
Christian Science Monitor,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anarchy. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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