Peremptory — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /pə-ˈrem(p)-t(ə-)rē/ pe·remp·to·ry

Meaning & Definition of Peremptory

Peremptory (adjective)

  1. putting an end to or precluding a right of action, debate, or delay; specifically, not providing an opportunity to show cause why one should not comply
  2. admitting of no contradiction
  3. expressive of urgency or command

Peremptory (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: authoritarian, authoritative, autocratic, bossy, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful, overbearing, tyrannical, tyrannous
    related: arrogant, assumptive, disdainful, fastuous, haughty, highfalutin, high-and-mighty, high-hat, huffy, important, lofty, lordly, overweening, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, proud, self-asserting, supercilious, superior, toplofty, uppish, uppity, commanding, controlling, dictating, regimental, arbitrary, high-handed, imperial, directorial, magisterial, aggressive, assertive, self-assertive, imperative, conceited, narcissistic, pompous, vain, all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent, firm, stern
    near: humble, meek, modest, unassuming, amenable, docile, obedient, tractable, indecisive, irresolute, acquiescent, compliant, passive, resigned, submissive, yielding

  2. forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law

    "a peremptory summons to appear before the committee"

    similar: compulsory, forced, imperative, incumbent, involuntary, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, required
    related: all-important, essential, indispensable, needed, requisite, insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent, demanded, enforced, coercive
    opposite: elective, optional, voluntary
    near: chosen, discretionary, dispensable, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, nonessential, unimportant

  3. 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"

    similar: arrogant, assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, haughty, high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, highfalutin, huffish, huffy, imperious, important, lofty, lordly, masterful, overweening, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, sniffy, stiff-necked, supercilious, superior, toplofty, uppish, uppity
    related: authoritarian, bossy, dominant, dominating, domineering, magisterial, pontifical, pontificating, condescending, disdainful, patronizing, impertinent, impudent, saucy, snobbish, snobby, snooty, blusterous, blustery, boastful, bombastic, braggart, bragging, braggy, cocky, swaggering, vain, vainglorious, complacent, conceited, egocentric, egoistic, egotistic, hubristic, narcissistic, orgulous, prideful, proud, self-affected, self-applauding, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up, self-flattering, self-loving, self-promoting, brash, forward, uninhibited, unreserved, extroverted, immodest
    opposite: humble, lowly, modest, unarrogant, unpretentious
    near: bashful, cowering, cringing, demure, diffident, introverted, mousy, overmodest, self-critical, self-doubting, sheepish, shrinking, shy, subdued, timid, acquiescent, compliant, deferential, meek, passive, submissive, unaggressive, unassertive, unassuming, unobtrusive, yielding, quiet, reserved, retiring

  4. 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"

    similar: arbitrary, dictatorial, high-handed, imperious, willful
    related: arrogant, commanding, demanding, dominant, domineering, haughty, imperative, lordly, masterful, overbearing, presumptuous, authoritarian, autocratic, despotic, totalitarian, tyrannical, tyrannous, capricious, changeable, erratic, inconsistent, mercurial, whimsical, biased, inequitable, partisan, prejudiced, unequal, unfair, unjust, unrealistic, unreasonable, unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous
    near: balanced, disinterested, dispassionate, equal, equitable, evenhanded, fair, impartial, just, nonpartisan, objective, rational, reasonable, understanding, unbiased, unprejudiced, ethical, honorable, irreproachable, law-abiding, moral, principled, unimpeachable

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Peremptory

The most common words with a similar meaning to Peremptory:

authoritarian, authoritative, autocratic, bossy, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful, overbearing, tyrannical, tyrannous, compulsory, forced, imperative, incumbent, involuntary, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, required, arrogant, assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, haughty, high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, highfalutin, huffish, huffy, important, lofty, lordly, overweening, pompous, presuming

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Peremptory

Words with the opposite meaning of Peremptory:

elective, optional, voluntary, humble, lowly, modest, unarrogant, unpretentious

Related Words for Peremptory

disdainful, fastuous, proud, commanding, controlling, dictating, regimental, imperial, directorial, magisterial, aggressive, assertive, conceited, narcissistic, vain, all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent, firm, stern, all-important, essential, indispensable, needed, requisite, insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent, demanded

Near Antonyms of Peremptory

meek, unassuming, amenable, docile, obedient, tractable, indecisive, irresolute, acquiescent, compliant, passive, resigned, submissive, yielding, chosen, discretionary, dispensable, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, nonessential, unimportant, bashful, cowering, cringing, demure, diffident, introverted

Word Forms of Peremptory

Derived words: peremptorily (adverb), peremptoriness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Peremptory

Middle English peremptorie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin peremptorius, from Latin, destructive, from perimere to take entirely, destroy, from per- thoroughly + emere to take redeem

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Peremptory

peremptory challenge

Frequently Asked Questions about Peremptory

What does "Peremptory" mean?

"Peremptory" means putting an end to or precluding a right of action, debate, or delay; specifically, not providing an opportunity to show cause why one should not comply. As an adjective, it is defined as: putting an end to or precluding a right of action, debate, or delay; specifically, not providing an opportunity to show cause why one should not comply. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Peremptory"?

Other words for "Peremptory" include authoritarian, authoritative, autocratic, bossy, despotic, dictatorial, domineering and imperious. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Peremptory" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Peremptory"?

There are 153 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Peremptory". Common alternatives include authoritarian, authoritative, autocratic, bossy, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful and overbearing.

What is the opposite of "Peremptory"?

Antonyms of "Peremptory" include elective, optional, voluntary, humble, lowly, modest, unarrogant and unpretentious. Near antonyms include meek, unassuming, amenable and docile.

How do you use "Peremptory" in a sentence?

Examples of "Peremptory" in a sentence: "the governor's peremptory personal assistant began telling the crowd of reporters and photographers exactly where they had to stand"; "a peremptory summons to appear before the committee"; "she had such a peremptory approach to running the club that people started to avoid her".

Is "Peremptory" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Peremptory" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Peremptory"?

"Peremptory" is pronounced /pə-ˈrem(p)-t(ə-)rē/ and divided into syllables as pe·remp·to·ry.

What is the origin of the word "Peremptory"?

"Peremptory" comes from Middle English peremptorie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin peremptorius, from Latin, destructive, from perimere to take entirely, destroy, from per- thoroughly + emere to take redeem. First known use: 15th century.