anarchical
Lacking all authority
Anarchical describes conditions of disorder, lawlessness, or absence of authority.
It applies to situations lacking organized government or control: The region descended into an anarchical state after the coup.
The word suggests chaos rather than the political philosophy of anarchism, though both share the root meaning of "without ruler." Anarchic is more common in contemporary usage.
Lacking control or authority
- lawlessNot bound by rules
- uncontrolledLacking any regulation
- unrestrainedNot held back
- unsupervisedWithout oversight or guidance
unmanaged · unrestricted · unchecked · unbridled · freewheeling · undirected · unpoliced · unconstrained
Violent uprising against authority
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- mutinyRevolt against authority
- seditionInciting revolt against government
insurgency · resistance · subversion · riot · dissent · defiance · civil disobedience · protest
Violent disorder and destruction
- pandemoniumState of utter confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
- disorderAbsence of organization
disarray · upheaval · tumult · havoc · lawlessness · unrest · confusion · disruption
Absence of constraint
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
liberty · self-governance · self-rule · independence · unshackling · unfettering · decentralization · voluntarism
ungoverned
Lacking control or authority
- lawlessNot bound by rules
- uncontrolledLacking any regulation
- unrestrainedNot held back
unsupervised · unmanaged · unrestricted · unchecked · unbridled · freewheeling · undirected · unpoliced · unconstrained · leaderless
insurrection
Violent uprising against authority
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- mutinyRevolt against authority
sedition · insurgency · resistance · subversion · riot · dissent · defiance · civil disobedience · protest · coup
mayhem
Violent disorder and destruction
- pandemoniumState of utter confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
disorder · disarray · upheaval · tumult · havoc · lawlessness · unrest · confusion · disruption · destabilization
freedom
Absence of constraint
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
sovereignty · liberty · self-governance · self-rule · independence · unshackling · unfettering · decentralization · voluntarism · anti-authoritarianism
anarchicalorderly
Arranged with care
governed · regulated · authoritarian · controlled · hierarchical