UNRULY Synonyms: 159 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'unruly' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unruly are headstrong , intractable , recalcitrant , refractory , ungovernable , and willful . While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior. // unruly children

Q: When would 'headstrong' be a good substitute for 'unruly'?

While the synonyms headstrong and unruly are close in meaning, headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion. // a headstrong young cavalry officer

Q: Where would 'intractable' be a reasonable alternative to 'unruly'?

The meanings of intractable and unruly largely overlap; however, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control. // intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

Q: When can 'recalcitrant' be used instead of 'unruly'?

While in some cases nearly identical to unruly , recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority. // acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

Q: In what contexts can 'refractory' take the place of 'unruly'?

The words refractory and unruly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold. // special schools for refractory children

Q: When is it sensible to use 'ungovernable' instead of 'unruly'?

The words ungovernable and unruly can be used in similar contexts, but ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others. // ungovernable rage

Q: When is 'willful' a more appropriate choice than 'unruly'?

In some situations, the words willful and unruly are roughly equivalent. However, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way. // a willful disregard for the rights of others

unruly

adjective

ˌən-ˈrü-lē

Definition of unruly

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control unruly pupils were given detention as a matter of course

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stubborn

given to resisting control or discipline by others a camp that was known as a place where unruly youths were given their last chance to shape up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in criminal

not restrained by or under the control of legal authority unruly mobs roamed the streets of the capital after the government leaders had fled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective unruly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unruly are headstrong, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, and willful. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

When would headstrong be a good substitute for unruly?

While the synonyms headstrong and unruly are close in meaning, headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

Where would intractable be a reasonable alternative to unruly?

The meanings of intractable and unruly largely overlap; however, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

When can recalcitrant be used instead of unruly?

While in some cases nearly identical to unruly, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

In what contexts can refractory take the place of unruly?

The words refractory and unruly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

When is it sensible to use ungovernable instead of unruly?

The words ungovernable and unruly can be used in similar contexts, but ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.

ungovernable rage

When is willful a more appropriate choice than unruly?

In some situations, the words willful and unruly are roughly equivalent. However, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

a willful disregard for the rights of others

Example Sentences

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 unruly Heavy Metal earned raves for its unruly combination of intimate songwriting, feverish emotion and left-field ambition, and the Carnegie Hall performance put that material in a setting almost comically grand enough to match its scale. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 19 Aug. 2026 Verano centers on an unruly teen whose plans for a carefree summer are disrupted when his parents welcome an asylum seeker into their home. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026 Early efforts to consolidate China’s market position began as an effort to rein in unruly domestic competition that kept prices low and risked depleting Chinese resources. — Gloria Xiong, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 The city of Cape May, New Jersey, passed a new curfew for juveniles Thursday in response to recent incidents of disruptive and unruly behavior. — Raymond Strickland, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unruly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unruly

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

Jacobs was formally charged Thursday with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property, stemming from the May 23 incident at his home near Green Bay.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
The bill brings state fireworks licensing requirements in line with federal ones by expanding the list of criminal convictions that make applicants ineligible for fireworks licenses.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of criminal

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

Together, the two embark on an anarchic mother-and-daughter journey to reconnect.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
The whole thing is an anarchic delirium reminiscent of the kind experienced by Bart and Milhouse after drinking an all-syrup Super Squishee; thankfully, the comedown is quick and relatively painless.

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 June 2026

Definition of anarchic

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

Adjective

The gist is to live only in the present, not revel in previous success nor wallow in failure, and not to be concerned with what uncontrollable things could happen next.

— Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
Officers testified that Miller was resisting arrest and uncontrollable.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of uncontrollable

Browse Nearby Words

unruliness

unruly

unrushed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unruly

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes