Definition of ungovernablenext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ungovernable differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ungovernable are headstrong, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, unruly, and willful. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," 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 could headstrong be used to replace ungovernable?

The words headstrong and ungovernable can be used in similar contexts, but headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

When can intractable be used instead of ungovernable?

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

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

In what contexts can recalcitrant take the place of ungovernable?

The words recalcitrant and ungovernable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

When is refractory a more appropriate choice than ungovernable?

In some situations, the words refractory and ungovernable are roughly equivalent. However, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

When is it sensible to use unruly instead of ungovernable?

Although the words unruly and ungovernable have much in common, unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

When would willful be a good substitute for ungovernable?

While in some cases nearly identical to ungovernable, 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 ungovernable It is often called ungovernable, perhaps a little grandly. Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 The biggest threat of AI is that the bulk of this powerful technology is uniquely within the control of a small cohort of ungovernable men. Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026 To be a great man, in this tradition, is to be ungovernable by small rules. Literary Hub, 6 May 2026 The biggest threat of AI is that the bulk of this powerful technology is uniquely within the control of a small cohort of ungovernable men. Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for ungovernable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungovernable
Adjective
  • This could bring about sudden ideas, or trigger rebellious impulses and creative imagination.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
  • In 2000 at age 15, he was sent to live in Australia with a host family because his father thought Zhang was too rebellious to stay in China.
    Jeff Kauflin, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • The cold water gasp reflex is completely involuntary and uncontrollable.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026
  • This is an ignoble war making monsters and fools out of its participants, and against the uncontrollable weapons that are dragons, everyone’s resolve is crumbling.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • Starmer had previously vowed to stand in any formal Labour leadership race triggered by rebel lawmakers who feating a 2029 election wipeout sought to replace him.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • Many rebel groups are offshoots of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which had been fighting to overthrow the government since the 1960s and had been the country's largest guerrilla organization.
    John Otis, NPR, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • And, for those with genuinely unmanageable debt, filing for bankruptcy offers a reset, though there are trade-offs to weigh.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 June 2026
  • Today, people amass unmanageable debt simply to keep faith with a story that feels increasingly detached from their reality.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • To a defiant Son, however, the party hasn’t even started.
    Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 25 June 2026
  • Terri Hupfer, draped in a Pride flag and a Giants’ issued Pride T-shirt, drove 90 minutes from her Delta home to join Tuesday’s pregame gathering, which was organized online and drew more media and police than defiant (or supportive) fans.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • The weather service’s forecast discussion for Kansas City said the stubborn heat could last through the Fourth of July.
    Christine Rapp, NBC news, 28 June 2026
  • Against all odds, the stubborn housing market has become a hotspot for young talent.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 28 June 2026
Adjective
  • Even as the Vegas Golden Knights age out and the Oilers fade, the Sharks are undeniably perched to be an intractable problem for Vancouver in the Pacific over the course of the next decade (or more).
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • That brief relief seemingly ignored an announcement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) just a few days earlier, that could create more intractable trouble for businesses in the months ahead.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • The 26-year-old actress plays Oreana Jackson in the Yellowstone spinoff series, the daughter of the unruly Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) and granddaughter of Rio Paloma's resident ranch queen, Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening).
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
  • Dinosaur quickly got banned from some Massachusetts venues for playing too loud with their unruly combination of punk aggression and guitar solo-heavy classic rock.
    Al Shipley, SPIN, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ungovernable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungovernable. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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