DISOBEDIENT Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

disobedient

adjective

ˌdis-ə-ˈbē-dē-ənt

Definition of disobedient

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control the disobedient child refused to eat his vegetables

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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 disobedient The news organizations also found that Garrison employees frequently removed students from their classrooms and sent them to crisis rooms when the students were upset, disobedient or aggressive. — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2025 But the main Putin-era methods for curtailing disobedient media proved to be lawfare and corporate takeovers. — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Sep. 2025 Kennedy Tolson is the sly queen of side-eye as the disobedient new housemaid Nancy. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025 In 2003, as the House considered an overhaul to Medicare, the party’s leadership issued threats against disobedient Republicans who saw the bill as a giveaway to pharmaceutical and insurance companies. — James D’angelo, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019 See All Example Sentences for disobedient

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disobedient

Adjective

Andrew Garfield is not just a rebellious peasant in his upcoming action period drama.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Green and Perry starred alongside one another on the hit Fox series, in which Green portrayed the aspiring musician David Silver while Perry starred as the rebellious Dylan McKay, for 10 years from 1990 to 2000.

— Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of rebellious

Adjective

Efforts to bring the outbreak under control — from limited public gatherings to social distancing and airport closures — have disrupted life in the six provinces, particularly Ituri, which also has been ravaged by rebel violence.

— Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Efforts to bring the outbreak under control — from limited public gatherings to social distancing and airport closures — have disrupted life in the six affected provinces, particularly Ituri, which has been ravaged by rebel violence.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of rebel

Adjective

Captured after years on the run and sentenced to life in 2017, Mladic remained defiant and unrepentant, still revered by some Serbs as a nationalist hero.

— Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Bringing it on board with the White House’s latest effort to subdue an Iranian leadership stubbornly defiant after almost six months of war, however, is an extremely tall order.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of defiant

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disobedience

disobedient

disobey

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“Disobedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disobedient. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of disobedient

adjective

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