rebellious

adjective

re·​bel·​lious ri-ˈbel-yəs How to pronounce rebellious (audio)
1
a
: given to or engaged in rebellion
rebellious troops
b
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a rebel or rebellion
a rebellious speech
2
: resisting treatment or management : refractory
rebelliously adverb
rebelliousness noun

Examples of rebellious in a Sentence

the rebellious troops fought a pitched battle with divisions still loyal to the government expected her son to grow a little more rebellious as he got older, but she knew he understood when to kick and when to obey
Recent Examples on the Web In truth, the school did not have a category, much less a scene, for the kind of man Heff was becoming: an old-school, rebellious beat. Mark Oppenheimer, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2024 Directed by Jason Reitman, the film depicts the rebellious group of writers and performers who helped create a comedy institution that has defied all predictions by enduring on NBC for half a century. Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024 In Orange County, California, this counterculture moment takes the youth by storm, becoming a sanctuary for rebellious teens. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2024 He was struck by how Lin was tapping into something slightly rebellious. Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rebellious 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rebellious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Dictionary Entries Near rebellious

Cite this Entry

“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebellious. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

rebellious

adjective
re·​bel·​lious ri-ˈbel-yəs How to pronounce rebellious (audio)
1
: taking part in rebellion
2
: tending to fight against or disobey authority
rebelliously adverb
rebelliousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rebellious

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