as in optional
subject to one's freedom of choice
discretionary spending on luxuries dropped dramatically last year
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Recent Examples of discretionary
State analysis shows the increase in inmates is due primarily to a decrease in discretionary paroles.
—
Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
The rejections, including a refusal to pay for hundreds more prison beds, came a month after a legislative analyst warned that the state’s prisons were going to exceed their capacity in the coming fiscal year, primarily because the number of inmates released on discretionary parole has declined.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
The department’s response to the writ hinged on the insurance commissioner’s discretionary powers as detailed in Section 307 of Title 36 of Oklahoma law.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Jan. 2026
Between 2017 and 2019, companies tied to the Abou Nassif brothers secured at least $413 million in contracts under the government food program that goes by the initials CLAP, launched as a subsidized community initiative but later transformed into a discretionary import-and-distribution scheme.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
The rejections, including a refusal to pay for hundreds more prison beds, came a month after a legislative analyst warned that the state’s prisons were going to exceed their capacity in the coming fiscal year, primarily because the number of inmates released on discretionary parole has declined.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
The department’s response to the writ hinged on the insurance commissioner’s discretionary powers as detailed in Section 307 of Title 36 of Oklahoma law.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Jan. 2026
Between 2017 and 2019, companies tied to the Abou Nassif brothers secured at least $413 million in contracts under the government food program that goes by the initials CLAP, launched as a subsidized community initiative but later transformed into a discretionary import-and-distribution scheme.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discretionary
Adjective
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As pilot classes continue, the San Dieguito Union High School District board voted this month to continue offering ethnic studies as an optional ninth grade English course for students in the coming school year.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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At the same time, optional sensors can also be added to detect gases or measure external temperatures.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Tanya Ceja pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
25 Jan. 2026
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Most recently, Waymo issued a voluntary software recall after six instances where the vehicles drove past Atlanta Public School buses with their stop arms extended.—
Sara Gregory,
AJC.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discretionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discretionary. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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