disorderly

1 of 3

adjective

dis·​or·​der·​ly (ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-dər-lē 

(ˌ)diz-

1

: engaged in conduct offensive to public order

charged with being drunk and disorderly

2

: characterized by disorder

a disorderly pile of clothes

disorderliness noun

disorderly

2 of 3

adverb

archaic

: in a disorderly manner

disorderliness

3 of 3

noun

dis·​orderliness

"+

: the quality or state of being disorderly

it gives a certain typical disorderliness to our behavior which baffles some foreign observers

—Dean Acheson

Synonyms of disorderly

Adjective

• criminal
• rebellious
• anarchic
• illegal
• unruly
• illicit
• lawless

Examples of disorderly in a Sentence

Adjective

She was charged with being drunk and disorderly.

He was found guilty of disorderly conduct.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Bessent’s maneuvers are distinct, some observers say, by not being prompted by crisis or particularly disorderly market conditions. — Christopher Anstey, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

By 2002, Beijing decided to rein in the disorderly competition. — Gloria Xiong, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Habib, who joined the department in 2007, was responding to a 911 call at a Bronx catering hall in 2023 when a drunk and disorderly man resisted arrest, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

He was then placed into custody for disorderly public intoxication and transported to Broward County’s main jail. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1555, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing disorderly

• disorderly conduct
• disorderly house

Rhymes for disorderly

• orderly

Kids Definition

disorderly

adjective

dis·​or·​der·​ly

(ˈ)dis-ȯrd-ər-lē

1

: not behaving quietly or well : upsetting public order : unruly

disorderly persons

disorderly conduct

2

: not neat or orderly

a disorderly mass of papers

disorderliness noun