peremptory

adjective

pə-ˈrem(p)-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce peremptory (audio)
Definition of peremptorynext
1
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around the governor's peremptory personal assistant began telling the crowd of reporters and photographers exactly where they had to stand

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compulsory
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law a peremptory summons to appear before the committee

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude she had such a peremptory approach to running the club that people started to avoid her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in arbitrary
having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity a peremptory insistence that the staff wait on them first

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word peremptory distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of peremptory are domineering, imperative, imperious, and masterful. While all these words mean "tending to impose one's will on others," peremptory implies an abrupt dictatorial manner coupled with an unwillingness to brook disobedience or dissent.

given a peremptory dismissal

When is domineering a more appropriate choice than peremptory?

Although the words domineering and peremptory have much in common, domineering suggests an overbearing or arbitrary manner and an obstinate determination to enforce one's will.

children controlled by domineering parents

Where would imperative be a reasonable alternative to peremptory?

The words imperative and peremptory are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imperative implies peremptoriness arising more from the urgency of the situation than from an inherent will to dominate.

an imperative appeal for assistance

When might imperious be a better fit than peremptory?

While the synonyms imperious and peremptory are close in meaning, imperious implies a commanding nature or manner and often suggests arrogant assurance.

an imperious executive used to getting his own way

When would masterful be a good substitute for peremptory?

The words masterful and peremptory can be used in similar contexts, but masterful implies a strong personality and ability to act authoritatively.

her masterful personality soon dominated the movement

Example Sentences

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 peremptory The genius of the people will ill brook the inquisitive and peremptory spirit of excise laws. — Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025 The lawyers accused prosecutors of using seven of their nine peremptory strikes to remove Black jurors from the prospective panel before the final jury was selected. — Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025 The defense challenged some of the government’s peremptory strikes over suggestions of racial bias. — Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 13 May 2025 The voir dire process involves two types of dismissals – so-called for cause dismissals and peremptory strikes. — Sandra Gonzalez, CNN Money, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for peremptory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peremptory
  1. authoritarian
  2. compulsory
  3. arrogant
  4. arbitrary
  5. domineering
  6. mandatory
  7. authoritative
  8. incumbent
Adjective
  • A good number of them also have authoritarian governments, raising questions about the lack of accountability and due process to ensure the protection of the deportees’ rights.
    — Mark Banchereau, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The Gwangju Biennale was founded in 1994 to commemorate the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, during which hundreds of civilians were killed during a protest against the authoritarian military government’s brutal crackdown on civil rights.
    — Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of authoritarian
Adjective
  • Even though public schooling became compulsory in 1896, the language barrier and the remote location of many plantations led to gaps in access to these laborers’ formal education.
    — H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 21 Aug. 2026
  • That set off both margin calls and compulsory sales at the fund.
    — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • Each of these decisions laid the groundwork for the war on Iran today, one that started without a clear strategy on the arrogant expectation of a quick victory.
    — Alexander Langlois, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The data center industry is only one face of an arrogant oligarchy that people believe now runs Congress, the courts, the White House, state legislatures and local governments.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • While some of the color contrasts do articulate planar shifts, such as the candy-stripe lips (red for upper, pink for lower), many of the touches are arbitrary splotches that neither bolster a shape nor set another off.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The choices of what to put in each episode — and when to cut from one timeline to another — have sometimes felt arbitrary, and have often disrupted the story’s overall flow.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of arbitrary
Adjective
  • Will stars in the film as Phil Weston, an unremarkable family man who grew up under the thumb of his domineering dad, Buck (Robert Duvall).
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
  • That’s a little too farcical for the moment, and the final cut lands more in a place of domineering intrigue.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026
Definition of domineering
Adjective
  • The fallout of this fraud included several new state-level fiscal accountability reforms for all New York school districts, including stricter internal controls, mandatory board oversight and independent auditor requirements.
    — Kathryn Blackman, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Due to the business’s small, quaint space, reservations are mandatory.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • Because these procedures can be incredibly complex, each chamber of Congress has a parliamentarian who provides authoritative, objective, and nonpartisan guidance on how rules and precedents should be interpreted and applied.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Their strategic advantage lies in leveraging local expertise and trusted, authoritative content directly within AI interfaces.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of authoritative
Adjective
  • In Asia-Pacific, where DeepMind opened a new research lab in Singapore last November, domestic players including ByteDance, Sakana AI and Sarvam AI are building share in markets the incumbent labs historically underinvested in.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Short dramas are unlikely to push out incumbent entertainment formats, according to Sensor Tower’s Shah.
    — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of incumbent

Browse Nearby Words

peremptoriness
peremptory
perennial
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Cite this Entry

“Peremptory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peremptory. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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