anarchic
adjective
an·ar·chic a-ˈnär-kik 
ə-
variants or less commonly anarchical
a-ˈnär-ki-kəl
ə-
1
a
: of, relating to, or advocating anarchy
b
: likely to bring about anarchy
anarchic violence
2
: lacking order, regularity, or definiteness
anarchic art forms
anarchically
a-ˈnär-ki-k(ə-)lē
adverb ə-
Synonyms
- disorderly
- lawbreaking
- lawless
- unruly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the citywide blackouts caused anarchic looting and rioting
Recent Examples on the Web All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Oscar-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras joined forces with artist and photographer Nan Goldin to create what is by turns a thorough and anarchic documentary about Goldin and her fight to take down the Sackler family. 
Douglas Greenwood, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2022 The gallerists said their landlord, less enamored with their anarchic spirit, is pushing them out, and the exhibition is a kind of going-away present in the form of nearly 1,000 holes in the walls, a final punk gesture befitting their surroundings. New York Times, 20 July 2022 Cinderella pitch-perfectly and Julia Lester, who layers everything deliciously, is a witty and anarchic delight as Red Riding Hood. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2022 Those young kids who grew up on the series aged to tweens, teens and young adults who never stopped at least somewhat enjoying the anarchic and comparatively non-sentimental antics of the mad scientist and his bizarre, yellow-skinned henchmen. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 5 July 2022 Barger’s rough and anarchic manner belied a disciplined entrepreneurial streak. Paul W. Valentine, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2022 What ensues is an anarchic, amusing and sneakily sobering journey into good intentions gone horribly wrong, due less to spectacularly poor judgment (although there’s plenty of that) than to the social ills of 2022 America. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 18 May 2022 Rigid hierarchies are replaced by a more democratic, borderline-anarchic practice. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022 In Jerusalem, as in Shakespeare, to go into the woods is to embrace anarchic lawlessness and surreal adventure. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 14 June 2022 See More
Douglas Greenwood, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2022 The gallerists said their landlord, less enamored with their anarchic spirit, is pushing them out, and the exhibition is a kind of going-away present in the form of nearly 1,000 holes in the walls, a final punk gesture befitting their surroundings. New York Times, 20 July 2022 Cinderella pitch-perfectly and Julia Lester, who layers everything deliciously, is a witty and anarchic delight as Red Riding Hood. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2022 Those young kids who grew up on the series aged to tweens, teens and young adults who never stopped at least somewhat enjoying the anarchic and comparatively non-sentimental antics of the mad scientist and his bizarre, yellow-skinned henchmen. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 5 July 2022 Barger’s rough and anarchic manner belied a disciplined entrepreneurial streak. Paul W. Valentine, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2022 What ensues is an anarchic, amusing and sneakily sobering journey into good intentions gone horribly wrong, due less to spectacularly poor judgment (although there’s plenty of that) than to the social ills of 2022 America. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 18 May 2022 Rigid hierarchies are replaced by a more democratic, borderline-anarchic practice. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022 In Jerusalem, as in Shakespeare, to go into the woods is to embrace anarchic lawlessness and surreal adventure. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 14 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
probably borrowed from New Latin anarchicus, from Medieval Latin anarchia anarchy + Latin -icus -ic entry 1
First Known Use
circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
anarchic
adjective
variants also anarchical
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority the citywide blackouts caused anarchic looting and rioting Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- criminal
- illicit
- disorderly
- lawless
- felonious
- illegal
- unruly
- defiant
- riotous
- unlawful
- rebellious
- lawbreaking
- undisciplined
- mutinous
- insubordinate
- wrongful
- disobedient
- refractory
- intractable
- recalcitrant
- illegitimate
- froward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- orderly
- legal
- legitimate
- lawful
- law-abiding
- docile
- obedient
- compliant
- legalized
- tractable
- amenable
- submissive