as in optional
subject to one's freedom of choice
discretionary spending on luxuries dropped dramatically last year
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discretionary
Evelyn Partners, previously known as Tilney Smith & Williamson, offers services from financial planning, discretionary investment management, and its direct-to-consumer platform, BestInvest.
—
Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
The city has leaned on its rainy-day reserves and discretionary funds to cover the deficit for the current budget cycle.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Much of the money came from district discretionary funds.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Due process is not discretionary.
—Rosalind Osgood, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
The city has leaned on its rainy-day reserves and discretionary funds to cover the deficit for the current budget cycle.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Much of the money came from district discretionary funds.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Due process is not discretionary.
—Rosalind Osgood, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discretionary
Adjective
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As frozen supply chains continue to expand, autonomous systems designed specifically for extreme environments may become essential rather than optional.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
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Using an agency, in fact, is entirely optional.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These funds support a voluntary return-home program in which returners receive a stipend for up to seven years.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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In fact, Lifetouch was the first school photography company to sign a voluntary and enforceable privacy pledge—reaffirming our deep commitment to protecting school communities.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discretionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discretionary. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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