disobedient

adjective

dis·​obe·​di·​ent ˌdis-ə-ˈbē-dē-ənt How to pronounce disobedient (audio)
-ō-ˈbē-
: refusing or neglecting to obey
disobediently adverb

Examples of disobedient in a Sentence

The disobedient soldier was given cleanup duty. The dog was being disobedient.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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, 20 May 2025 Quinn’s group provides training for schools throughout Rhode Island and beyond, aimed at helping teachers understand how the brain functions in people with autism and offering strategies on how to effectively respond to behavior challenges that could easily be labeled disobedient or disorderly. Sarah Butrymowicz, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024 Fed Up in Illinois Dear Fed Up: Is Edie mean, arrogant, disobedient and rude in the presence of her parents, or has she been invited to spend time with your girls separately? Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2025 When Ballard was asked at the end of the season why Richardson needed to be demoted for the stakes of his job to finally sink in, the GM compared his QB’s behavior to that of a disobedient child. James Boyd, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disobedient

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disobedient was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Disobedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disobedient. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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