ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary BuilderWordsPperemptory
ISEE/SSAThard
peremptory
Meaning: demanding immediate obedience without allowing discussion
peremptory in a sentence
How peremptory is used in real sentences:
His peremptory order ended the debate before anyone could object.
With a peremptory gesture, the director ordered everyone off the stage.
“They showed that the prosecutor had issued peremptory orders to an analyst: revise the dates immediately and entertain no questions.”
— from the passage The Weight of Fifteen Years
“Envoy Mara Voss regarded the peremptory orders as a test: accepting them would turn a negotiated privilege into permission granted at Varen's pleasure.”
— from the passage The Varen Customs Crisis
“Grandfather issued a peremptory command for Lena to sign that evening, as though her property and consent were mere formalities.”
— from the passage The Empty Chair
Synonyms for peremptory
Other words for peremptory — imperious, dictatorial and commanding — carry the same meaning.
- imperious
- dictatorial
- commanding
Antonyms of peremptory
Words that mean the opposite of peremptory:
Where it comes from
From Latin perimere, meaning 'to destroy' or 'cut off.'
Word parts
- -ary/-ory — Makes adjectives meaning relating to, or nouns for associated people, things, or places.
peremptory: per- (completely) + empt (take) + -ory (relating to)
Memory hook
PEREMPTORY sounds like 'promptly': its tone demands prompt obedience.
Practice peremptory in the app