anarchic

adjective

an·​ar·​chic a-ˈnär-kik 

ə-

variants or less commonly anarchical

a-ˈnär-ki-kəl 

ə-

1

a

: of, relating to, or advocating anarchy

b

: likely to bring about anarchy

anarchic violence

2

: lacking order, regularity, or definiteness

anarchic art forms

anarchically

a-ˈnär-ki-k(ə-)lē 

ə-

adverb

Synonyms

• disorderly
• lawbreaking
• lawless
• unruly

Examples of anarchic in a Sentence

the citywide blackouts caused anarchic looting and rioting

Recent Examples on the Web

Their just cause is hijacked by an extremist within their ranks, who is ready to murder everyone in the building to send his anarchic message to the world. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024

Christmas Vacation excels best in the chaos, from Clark’s yuppie neighbors being perpetually tormented by him to the anarchic family dinners (blissfully unaware Aunt Bethany is our personal MVP). —EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024

What bothers Abrahamian, in the end, isn’t the anarchic but the unfair; if capital is free, people deserve the same respect. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

The Pulp Fiction filmmaker sang the praises of director Todd Phillips' controversial comic book sequel Joker: Folie à Deux in an appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis podcast, opining that Phillips adopted the anarchic spirit of the main character while helming the movie. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from New Latin anarchicus, from Medieval Latin anarchia anarchy + Latin -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

anarchic

adjective

an·​ar·​chic a-ˈnär-kik 

ə-

: of or relating to anarchy

anarchically

-ki-k(ə-)lē 

adverb