as in optional
subject to one's freedom of choice
discretionary spending on luxuries dropped dramatically last year
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Recent Examples of discretionary
The administration said the halt in funding on March 19 came after a separate discretionary federal money review.
—
Makiya Seminera, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2025
But the uncertainty is dimming the outlook for later this year, while weaker U.S. consumer confidence is already hurting spending on discretionary items like sneakers.
—Fedja Grulovic, Patricia Weiss, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
So far this year, discretionary purchases among Hispanic consumers have fallen at a faster clip than non-Hispanic customers, according to market research firm Circana.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
Cancel unnecessary subscriptions, pause discretionary purchases, and negotiate lower rates on bills like internet or phone.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Makiya Seminera, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2025
But the uncertainty is dimming the outlook for later this year, while weaker U.S. consumer confidence is already hurting spending on discretionary items like sneakers.
—Fedja Grulovic, Patricia Weiss, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
So far this year, discretionary purchases among Hispanic consumers have fallen at a faster clip than non-Hispanic customers, according to market research firm Circana.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
Cancel unnecessary subscriptions, pause discretionary purchases, and negotiate lower rates on bills like internet or phone.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Cite this Entry
“Discretionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discretionary. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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