Skip to main content
anarchic

anarchic

5 7.4
A situation with no order or control and no leaders
  • adjective
  • /əˈnɑrkɪk/
translation icon : anárquico
  • The workers' radical-democratic party was not a lunatic or anarchic fringe, but a party with legitimate representation.
  • anarchic style
  • anarchic system
  • anarchic world

So on both those fronts, we still have absolutely anarchic legislation.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Only then could the anarchic society of which Cage dreamed become a reality.

    Academic text (1997)
  • In an anarchic society, people often act according to their own rules instead of following authority.

  • And in an anarchic world, there's no higher authority that you can turn to if you get into trouble.

  • To realists, peace is the goal and war is failure, even though the anarchic nature of the world makes peace a moving target.

  • They were slightly anarchic, and that was their appeal.

  • As a result, unilateral free trade policies may not be optimal for states in an anarchic international system.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The process of industrialization is an anarchic one, with environmental controls and regulations almost non-existent.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Realists describe international relations as anarchic and dominated by self-interested states.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The Sicilian history of the period from 1040 to 1052 is confusing and anarchic.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The chaotic situation created an anarchic environment where no one knew what to expect next.

Synonyms

lawless
vsanarchic
29 4.9

A place where laws do not control people, causing disorder

refers to absence of rule more generally, not only legal control
anarchistic
vsanarchic
2 9.1

Supporting no government and opposing other forms of authority

describes lack of order without implying political support
anarchical
vsanarchic
1 8.6

Having no order or control, often without government

has the same meaning but is an alternative word form

Antonyms

55 2.4

Arranged in a tidy, organized way

Kept within limits by careful management

Compounds

A way of living without rules or leaders

How Chaotic

chaotic
116 4.7
anarchic
5 7.4
disorganized
  • US
38 3.1
orderly
55 2.4

Surface Forms

anarchic positive

Morphology

anarchic = anarchy (transparent) = anarchy + ic

The adjective is a regular derivation from the noun 'anarchy' with the productive suffix '-ic', so the meaning is directly related to 'anarchy'.

Etymology

Anarchic comes from the Greek parts an- meaning 'not' and arch meaning 'ruler', as in monarch. So something anarchic is 'without a ruler', which is why it means lacking order or control.