anarchic
Americanadjective
-
of, like, or tending to anarchy.
-
advocating anarchy.
-
not regulated by law; lawless.
Anarchic bands pillaged the countryside.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of anarchic
First recorded in 1780–90; either from French anarchique or anarch(y) + -ic
Explanation
Something that's anarchic is out of control or extremely disorganized. An anarchic classroom has no rules — it most likely has no teacher, either. Wars and political conflicts are frequently described as anarchic, particularly if they appear to be lawless and chaotic. Any situation that's lacking structure or rules can be called anarchic, like a wild, sugar-fueled birthday party or an anarchic swarm of gulls attacking a plate of French fries on a picnic table. The Greek root word is anarkhos, "without head or chief."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sir Anthony Seldon, former head teacher and author on AI in education, says the technology is being used more and more frequently, but that its introduction has been "chaotic and anarchic".
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Greece, for instance, has “genuinely anarchic development in some areas with a lot of illegal construction,” Bouisset said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
He never had an unmistakable screen personality such as Chaplin’s Tramp, Keaton’s “Great Stone Face,” or those of the various Marx Brothers doing their anarchic things.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Instead, he has blamed "infiltrators" or "anarchic forces" for igniting violence -- without giving further details.
From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026
High school is neither a democracy nor a dictatorship—nor, contrary to popular belief, an anarchic state.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
