obedience

obe·di·ence

noun \ō-ˈbē-dē-ən(t)s, ə-\

Definition of OBEDIENCE

1

a : an act or instance of obeying

b : the quality or state of being obedient

2

: a sphere of jurisdiction; especially : an ecclesiastical or sometimes secular dominion

Examples of OBEDIENCE

1. <the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits>
2. <the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command>

First Known Use of OBEDIENCE

13th century

Related to OBEDIENCE

Synonyms

compliance, conformity, submission, subordination

Antonyms

balkiness, contrariness, contumacy, defiance, disobedience, frowardness, insubordination, intractability, noncompliance, obstreperousness, rebelling, rebellion, rebelliousness, recalcitrance, refractoriness, self-will, unruliness, waywardness, willfulness

Related Words

abidance, agreeability, amenability, teachableness, tractability, tractableness, trainability; acquiescence, capitulation, obeisance, obsequiousness, submissiveness, surrender, yielding; deference, docility, dutifulness, humility, meekness, modesty, servility, slavishness, subordinateness, subservience, subserviency; inhibition, repression, restraint, suppression; control, discipline, dutifulness, order

Near Antonyms

noncooperation, recusancy; disrespect, impudence, insolence, rudeness; insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, outbreak, revolt; hardheadedness, mulishness, mutinousness, obstinacy, obstinateness, perversity, pigheadedness, stubbornness; misbehavior, mischievousness, naughtiness; dissent, dissidence