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.
A product of the Cambridge Footlights, the cradle of so much post-war British comedy, he shot to fame in the 1970s as a member of the anarchic Goodies.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Martin and Lewis were the founding fathers of an anarchic, side-splitting brand of comedy that combined pratfalls, ad-libbed wordplay and a sustained demolition of the fourth floor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
A product of an anarchic group called the Cacophony Society, SantaCon has come to be seen by many as an annoying pub crawl.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2025
Due to its liberating and anarchic nature, there is a consensus that Burning Man symbolizes the legacy of the socially libertarian spirit of the 1960s counterculture.
From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2025
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.
