rebellious
adjective
re·bel·lious
ri-ˈbel-yəs 
1
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
From director James DeMonaco, creator of The Purge franchise, actor-comedian Davidson plays Max in The Home, a rebellious twenty-something sentenced to community service at a quiet retirement home.
—
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 July 2025
The story follows rebellious young demigod Ne Zha, who wrestles with his powers and the threat of humanity’s destruction.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 9 July 2025
Huishan Zhang: For me, Nan’s beauty truly embodies a natural sophistication that is paired with a rebellious spirit that is totally unapologetic yet so refined.
—Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
In a 1996 interview with Select Magazine, a section about their favourite records is interrupted by the sudden mention of Robin Friday, the heavy-drinking, rebellious centre-forward of the 1970s.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
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.
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 July 2025
The story follows rebellious young demigod Ne Zha, who wrestles with his powers and the threat of humanity’s destruction.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 9 July 2025
Huishan Zhang: For me, Nan’s beauty truly embodies a natural sophistication that is paired with a rebellious spirit that is totally unapologetic yet so refined.
—Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
In a 1996 interview with Select Magazine, a section about their favourite records is interrupted by the sudden mention of Robin Friday, the heavy-drinking, rebellious centre-forward of the 1970s.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Cite this Entry
“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebellious. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rebellious
adjective
re·bel·lious
ri-ˈbel-yəs
1
: taking part in rebellion
2
: tending to fight against or disobey authority
rebelliously
adverb
rebelliousness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share