anarchism

noun

Definition of anarchismnext
as in anarchy
a situation of confused and wild behavior in which the people in a country, group, organization, etc., are not controlled by rules or laws

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anarchism The incident involving labor activists and anarchists became linked with radical politics such as socialism and anarchism, which made May 1 politically sensitive. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026 His political ideals were rooted in variants of anarchism, aspiring to a stateless society where communities organized themselves on principles like liberty, solidarity and equality. — Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 8 Dec. 2025 During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism. — Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026 The ideologies of antifa adherents are based on various left-wing causes, including communism, anarchism and socialism, while many also support environmentalism, the rights of indigenous populations and LGBTQ+ rights. — Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anarchism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anarchism
  1. anarchy
  2. commotion
Noun
  • Few if any of the committees called for democracy, which probably would have smacked of anarchy to them.
    — T. H. Breen, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026
  • Just anarchy, all in the name of 8U baseball.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
Definition of anarchy
Noun
  • With some flashing lights, this thing flying around in the sky would cause quite a commotion.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 2 July 2026
  • Any browns feeding there are less likely to have been spooked by the commotion.
    — Tom Opre, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Definition of commotion

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Cite this Entry

“Anarchism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anarchism. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on anarchism

Nglish: Translation of anarchism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anarchism

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