Synonym Chooser

How is the word obedient different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of obedient are amenable, docile, and tractable. While all these words mean "submissive to the will of another," obedient implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority.

obedient to the government

When is amenable a more appropriate choice than obedient?

The words amenable and obedient can be used in similar contexts, but amenable suggests a willingness to yield or cooperate because of a desire to be agreeable or because of a natural open-mindedness.

amenable to new ideas

When is it sensible to use docile instead of obedient?

Although the words docile and obedient have much in common, docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance.

a docile child

Where would tractable be a reasonable alternative to obedient?

In some situations, the words tractable and obedient are roughly equivalent. However, tractable suggests having a character that permits easy handling or managing.

tractable animals

Examples of obedient in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Eventually members shaved their heads and had to be obedient to Dederich despite his brutality and manipulative behavior. Addie Morfoot, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024 Step 11: Don’t be automatically allegiant or blindly obedient. Barbara Kellerman, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 No recruiting militia passed through her village; her transformation from obedient housewife to swaggering gang leader was accomplished by sheer force of will. Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 Thirty years ago, Turkey was an obedient U.S. ally, dependent on Washington for its security and prosperity. Fareed Zakaria, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for obedient 

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

Thesaurus Entries Near obedient

Cite this Entry

“Obedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obedient. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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