1
2
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

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 Less than twenty-four hours after O’Keefe was pronounced dead, the lead investigator on the case, a Massachusetts state trooper named Michael Proctor, shared his peremptory impressions of Read over texts with friends, which he was forced to read aloud on the stand. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024 The biggest payoff from this strategy came in 1991, when the Eleventh Circuit ruled in Horton v. Zant that a prosecutor had systematically used peremptory strikes to eliminate Black jurors from his cases, particularly in cases involving a Black person charged with killing a white person. Robert L. Tsai / Made By History, TIME, 28 June 2024 If both sides were allowed an unlimited number of peremptory strikes, impaneling a jury in any trial would prove an impossible task. Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024 The parties are allowed to strike an unlimited number of jurors for cause, while each side is permitted ten peremptory strikes, which are used to excuse jurors for any reason. Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for peremptory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peremptory
Adjective
  • His parents were Italian immigrants who fled Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime, and his grandmother Rosa Margherita Vassallo di Bergoglio was active in Catholic Action, formed by Italian bishops who wanted to maintain their independence from Mussolini’s authoritarian rule.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been called an authoritarian, and previous reports have noted restrictions to civil liberties.
    Graham Smith, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Jack would begin a compulsory ninety-day psychiatric evaluation in the California Institution for Men in Chino, a rough place known to be brutal to younger inmates for the same possession charges.
    Susannah Cahalan, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Now, Weight Watchers isn’t exactly facing bankruptcy because people everywhere are suddenly looking inward and agreeing to throw off the shackles of compulsory thinness.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Ava Daniels is a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to an insensitive tweet and her reputation for being self-centered and arrogant.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • And the villains, of course, exuding every nastily relatable emotion; the stepmothers and sorceresses are vain, arrogant, dismissive, lonely, rude, and outrageous.
    Darren Franich, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Too many leaders seek to lead down by being authoritative, by pushing dictates on people and relentlessly driving forward toward arbitrary goals and deadlines.
    Andrew Deutscher, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The responses, submitted by a fairly arbitrary group of women, range from profound to half-hearted.
    Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Carrie is described as a reimagining of the story of misfit high-schooler Carrie White, who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Perhaps most frustrating to Mainers: the domineering influence of Boston in the state’s government.
    Made by History, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Following his mandatory Israeli army service, Ferder apprenticed under master cutters while going to school at night for business and gemology.
    Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The Folsom and Clementine program mirrors restrictions adopted across Northern California with boaters wishing to launch having a red quarantine seal for at least 30 days after a mandatory inspection.
    Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In contrast, the Pixel 9, priced at $799, offers a brighter display, 12GB RAM, a superior 50MP main camera, and additional features like faster charging and Wi-Fi 7 support.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Behind them are two more NL teams — the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets — as the NL proves to be by far the superior league.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Leadership is often associated with grand speeches, authoritative presence and a commanding voice.
    Mohammad Bahareth, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • There are lots of ways to be an authoritative parent, which can leave moms and dads (but mostly moms) feeling rudderless.
    Gail Cornwall, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Peremptory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peremptory. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on peremptory

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!