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 are simply not enough possible discretionary, non-defense domestic spending cuts to make a dent in the debt.
—
Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
As of last month, ICE has space for roughly 41,000 people but is shooting to increase that to 50,000 by using discretionary funds to cover the costs.
—Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
The league distributes the rest — more than $160 million, according to a source briefed on the numbers — to clubs through a supplemental commissioner’s discretionary fund.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Banking and technology continue to lead in discretionary spending, while industries like telecom and manufacturing remain more conservative.
—Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for discretionary 
Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
As of last month, ICE has space for roughly 41,000 people but is shooting to increase that to 50,000 by using discretionary funds to cover the costs.
—Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
The league distributes the rest — more than $160 million, according to a source briefed on the numbers — to clubs through a supplemental commissioner’s discretionary fund.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Banking and technology continue to lead in discretionary spending, while industries like telecom and manufacturing remain more conservative.
—Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for discretionary
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Cite this Entry
“Discretionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discretionary. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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