peremptory
6
9.3
- adjective
- /pəˈrɛmp.tə.ri/
- Formal
:
perentorio
- "You must," the mulatto said in a peremptory voice, and yet his eyes were as pleading as a beggar's.
- peremptory strikes
- peremptory challenges
- peremptory norm
Examples
-
Charles shushed his wife with a peremptory gesture and asked Diana to go on.
Fiction book (1992) -
"Close the windows, then leave us," said Kong with a peremptory wave of his cigar's burning end.
Fiction book (1998) -
"Leave us alone," said the man in bed in a clear and cold, peremptory voice.
Fiction book (1990) -
The women of the place entered, now harsh-voiced and peremptory, with cauldrons of thin yellow goulash.
Fiction book (1993) -
But that didn't faze her a bit: she just snorted and in a very peremptory manner replied, "Humph!"
Fiction book (1999) -
The manager issued a peremptory order for all employees to attend the meeting immediately.
-
Her peremptory tone made it clear that no one could disagree with her decision.
-
He gave a peremptory command for the soldiers to stand at attention without delay.
Synonyms
75
5.0
Being rude and trying too hard to make people do what you want
58
7.5
Expecting people to follow orders and allowing little freedom
50
4.1
Demanding attention or action again and again in a firm way
46
2.6
Being quick to tell people what to do in a forceful, unpleasant way
30
5.8
Being proud and trying to control other people
14
8.0
A leader who has complete power and does not allow others to disagree
12
7.4
Trying to control other people and not listening to their ideas
1
7.9
Showing a strong, commanding way of speaking or acting
1
5.6
Trying to control other people in a forceful or unfair way
Telling people to act immediately in a rude, forceful way
Antonyms
How Commanding
Surface Forms
Etymology
Peremptory comes from Latin parts per- ('completely') and emere ('to take'). It once meant 'to take away choice', so a peremptory order or tone leaves no chance to say no.