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
Republican senators say Thune has also floated the idea of converting discretionary defense spending into mandatory spending and passing it under the budget reconciliation process.
—
Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
To raise an additional $60 million for Harford schools without raising taxes or taking money from public safety, emergency services or the sheriff’s office, the county government would have to cut areas of its discretionary budget.
—Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 22 Nov. 2024
Zachary Robichaud, Lecturer, Ted Rogers School of Retail Management, Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto, Canada)
Inflation has undoubtedly impacted disposable income, leading many consumers to prioritize essential purchases over discretionary spending.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
Known as DINKs — Dual Income, No Kids — these couples are becoming a key force in discretionary spending, according to a recent Harris Poll survey.
—Anisha Sircar, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for discretionary 
Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
To raise an additional $60 million for Harford schools without raising taxes or taking money from public safety, emergency services or the sheriff’s office, the county government would have to cut areas of its discretionary budget.
—Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 22 Nov. 2024
Zachary Robichaud, Lecturer, Ted Rogers School of Retail Management, Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto, Canada)
Inflation has undoubtedly impacted disposable income, leading many consumers to prioritize essential purchases over discretionary spending.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
Known as DINKs — Dual Income, No Kids — these couples are becoming a key force in discretionary spending, according to a recent Harris Poll survey.
—Anisha Sircar, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for discretionary
Thesaurus Entries Near discretionary
Cite this Entry
“Discretionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discretionary. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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