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.
“All the mighty, anarchic carelessness of our country was revealed in Borger,” Benton observed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Just look at the anarchic energy of The Spice Girls' Wannabe, or the seven-part pop Frankenstein that was Girls Aloud's Biology and ask yourself, "Could Westlife have pulled that off?"
From BBC • Nov. 7, 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
Its longstanding arts scene and anarchic energy feed into avant-garde pop-up art exhibitions, Yiddish open mic nights and dance parties.
From Barron's • Oct. 26, 2025
Under that nation’s politics and parades and passions runs an old darkness, passive, anarchic, silent, the fecund darkness of the Handdara.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
