anarchic

American

[an-ahr-kik] / ænˈɑr kɪk /

Also anarchical

adjective

of, like, or tending to anarchy.
advocating anarchy.
not regulated by law; lawless.

Anarchic bands pillaged the countryside.

Other Word Forms

anarchically adverb
hyperanarchic adjective
nonanarchic adjective
nonanarchical adjective
nonanarchically adverb
proanarchic adjective
unanarchic adjective

Etymology

Origin of anarchic

First recorded in 1780–90; either from French anarchique or anarch(y) + -ic

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.

Shot on a handheld digital camera, the film applies an anarchic home-movie aesthetic to a superbly performed, discomfitingly comic drama of darkness within a family.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 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

It's an anarchic song, full of two-bar guitar solos and ostentatious drum fills.

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2025

Since this season’s finale, which sees Mark abandon his outie’s wife, Gemma, to run away with the anarchic Helly, Britt Lower, who plays the character, has observed fans’ impassioned response to that cliffhanger.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 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