disobedient

adjective

dis·​obe·​di·​ent ˌdis-ə-ˈbē-dē-ənt How to pronounce disobedient (audio)
-ō-ˈbē-
: refusing or neglecting to obey
disobediently adverb

Example Sentences

The disobedient soldier was given cleanup duty. The dog was being disobedient.
Recent Examples on the Web Angry, vitriolic and mean, the bare-knuckled deep cut presented Metallica at its most dissonant and disobedient. Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2022 The effect of scolding was more pronounced when the dogs were obedient, not disobedient. Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2015 Bone was born in Budapest in 1889 and proved an intelligent — if disobedient — child. Michael Harris, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2017 The Islamic regime has always operated in a way of wanting to make examples of disobedient people. Lily Moayeri, Variety, 16 Dec. 2022 But records detail multiple instances when staff called police because students were being disobedient: spraying water, punching a desk or damaging a filing cabinet, for example. Jennifer Smith Richards And Jodi S. Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 17 Dec. 2022 About 170 students were disciplined for exhibiting disobedient or disruptive behavior at school. Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2022 Somali parents as professional treatment for young people who are drug users, alcoholics, mentally ill, gay, disobedient, sacrilegious or simply too Westernized. Michael M. Phillips, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children? Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 28 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disobedient.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near disobedient

Cite this Entry

“Disobedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disobedient. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

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