preemptory
9.2
Telling people to act immediately in a rude, forceful way
- adjective
- /priˈɛmptəri/
- Formal
:
imperativo
- You'll forgive me if I'm slightly preemptory in this business, but I would like to keep the drink flowing in this time of great celebration.
Examples
-
But there was something preemptory in that voice.
Fiction book (1998) -
The manager's preemptory order left no room for discussion or disagreement.
-
With a preemptory tone, she demanded the report be submitted by noon.
-
His preemptory reminder to arrive early made it clear that tardiness would not be tolerated.
Synonyms
commanding
vspreemptory
8
4.1
Having a strong presence that makes people pay attention
is about strong presence rather than insisting on instant obedience
6
9.3
Demanding immediate action in a bossy way and allowing no refusal
is firm but framed as abrupt command rather than blocking refusal
Antonyms
How Commanding
dictatorial
16
7.7
16
7.7
imperious
8
8.4
8
8.4
preemptory
- Formal
commanding
8
4.1
8
4.1
assertive
42
4.2
42
4.2
firm
73
2.7
73
2.7
Surface Forms
preemptory positive
Etymology
Preemptory in the sense of an abrupt, bossy order is close to the word peremptory, which means 'final' or 'commanding', and the two ideas may have mixed together. A helpful way to remember this is that a preemptory instruction leaves no room to answer, so it feels sudden and demanding.