disobey

verb

dis·​obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā 

-ō-

disobeyed; disobeying; disobeys

intransitive verb

: to be disobedient

transitive verb

: to fail to obey

disobeyer noun

Synonyms of disobey

• ignore
• violate
• defy
• resist
• mock
• oppose

Examples of disobey in a Sentence

If you disobey, you will be severely punished.

The soldier disobeyed the general's orders.

He was afraid to disobey his father.

The driver had disobeyed the law.

Recent Examples on the Web

In one story, the king, Hiranyakashipu, ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him and was irked when his own son Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, disobeyed his command. —ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026

In the internal report, an ICE agent wrote that Martinez appeared intoxicated or impaired and disobeyed verbal instructions to stop and exit his vehicle. —Bayliss Wagner, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026

What is the penalty for disobeying a traffic signal? —Emery Glover, Des Moines Register, 16 Feb. 2026

Service members are only required to follow orders that are lawful and have a duty to disobey commands that are patently unlawful, according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French desobeir, from des- dis- + obeir to obey

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for disobey

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

disobey

verb

dis·​obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā 

: to refuse, neglect, or fail to obey