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
There is no blanket rule against Presidents guiding discretionary spending in a way that is consistent with their policies.
—
Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2025
However, the Department of Education’s discretionary federal funding is limited.
—Corey A. Deangelis, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
At more than $890 billion, the Pentagon's budget is a behemoth — accounting for roughly half of the U.S. government's discretionary spending this fiscal year.
—Zachary Basu, Axios, 12 Feb. 2025
In Missouri, lawmakers are curbed from using the Missouri Works program, the BUILD (Building Use Incentives for Large-Scale Development) program and the new or expanded business facility tax credit, along with other state discretionary programs.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2025
However, the Department of Education’s discretionary federal funding is limited.
—Corey A. Deangelis, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
At more than $890 billion, the Pentagon's budget is a behemoth — accounting for roughly half of the U.S. government's discretionary spending this fiscal year.
—Zachary Basu, Axios, 12 Feb. 2025
In Missouri, lawmakers are curbed from using the Missouri Works program, the BUILD (Building Use Incentives for Large-Scale Development) program and the new or expanded business facility tax credit, along with other state discretionary programs.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 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 4 Mar. 2025.
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