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
Rising prices could pressure household budgets and derail consumer spending if Americans pull back on discretionary purchases, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee told CBS News earlier this month.
—
Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
Here, the benchmark is to spend a maximum of 50% of your income on essentials and financial obligations, like rent, and then 30% on wants, meaning discretionary spending.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 8 Apr. 2026
Some of the biggest gains were in the most cyclical and interest rate-sensitive parts of the market, like industrials, consumer discretionary, materials, and financials.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
The general fund is the part of the city budget that is used, like a discretionary checking account, to support the day-to-day operation of city services.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
Here, the benchmark is to spend a maximum of 50% of your income on essentials and financial obligations, like rent, and then 30% on wants, meaning discretionary spending.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 8 Apr. 2026
Some of the biggest gains were in the most cyclical and interest rate-sensitive parts of the market, like industrials, consumer discretionary, materials, and financials.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
The general fund is the part of the city budget that is used, like a discretionary checking account, to support the day-to-day operation of city services.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discretionary
Adjective
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Students are invited to participate in this optional summer program to strengthen their reading and math skills, as well as build social-emotional skills.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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Escondido Union High gives its employees access to MagicSchool AI, along with optional training, and teachers can choose which of its tools to make available to students.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Both Vantor and Planet say that the decision to begin limiting imagery has been voluntary.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2026
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The honest answer may be that the Keynesian 15-hour workweek is coming—just not through voluntary corporate generosity.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discretionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discretionary. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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