anarchic

adjective

a-ˈnär-kik How to pronounce anarchic (audio)
variants also anarchical
Definition of anarchicnext
as in rebellious
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority the citywide blackouts caused anarchic looting and rioting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anarchic The story links the creatures’ anarchic physical comedy to silent-era pioneers such as Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026 In a nod to the Marx Brothers’ anarchic spirit, Ramseur announced the project on April 1. — Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026 The action was technical and inventive but also anarchic, in the image of its director, former Monty Python actor Terry Gilliam, by this point a big name in Hollywood. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 3 June 2026 No one embodies this anarchic sensibility like David Letterman, the original Late Show host, who recently joined Colbert to hurl CBS property off the studio’s roof, in a reprisal of a vintage bit. — Judy Berman, Time, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for anarchic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anarchic
  1. rebellious
  2. criminal
  3. disorderly
  4. illicit
  5. lawless
Adjective
  • The shoes appeared similar to the popular DSquared 2 Riri heeled sandals, which are also a sleek, seductive and rebellious style with towering heels and straps that wrap around the foot and ankle with super-thin leather ties.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Suzanne’s kind of rebellious temperament brought a lucidity to that character.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • Homeland Security Investigations agents also interviewed Adawag last week, according to the criminal complaint filed against her.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Martin Zummach, an attorney who represents the officer who fired the shot that killed Kohen, says the attorney general's findings cleared his client of criminal wrongdoing.
    — SOPHIE BATES, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • The drunk-and-disorderly charge is linked to a December incident, in which Minton is accused of shouting and cursing at patrons of a tattoo studio in Hickory, court records show.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Loyal Maids in Extravagant Mansions While Solana is a disorderly servant, Clarita reflects the trope of the loyal maid of the higher class, the societal expectation in the region.
    — Damaly Gonzalez, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of disorderly
Adjective
  • From December 2024 to May 2025, the international law enforcement body Interpol conducted Operation Pangea XVII, in which authorities in 90 countries seized more than 50 million doses of illicit pharmaceuticals.
    — Andrew Yockey, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Participants were also asked about their alcohol consumption, smoking and illicit drug use.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • Still, these are highly watchable actors, and as a movie to have on in the background while making dinner, Animals — so named for the lawless beast inside all of us, not that there’s much traction in that theme — will play just fine on Netflix.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The concept of a lawless military felt familiar for the cast.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of lawless

Browse Nearby Words

anarch
anarchic
anarchism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anarchic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anarchic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All