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

Under military law, service members are obligated to obey lawful orders, but to disobey unlawful orders. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

Separate bills have been proposed to stipulate that public servants, including military personnel, can disobey their superiors' unlawful orders. —NPR, 3 Dec. 2025

But service members are allowed to disobey unlawful orders—and they could even be prosecuted for carrying out patently unlawful orders, such as war crimes. —Chantelle Lee, Time, 25 Nov. 2025

An order requiring the performance of a military duty or act may be inferred to be lawful and it is disobeyed at the peril of the subordinate. —Christa Swanson, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025

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