disorderly

1 of 2

adverb

dis·​or·​der·​ly (ˌ)dis-ˈȯrd-ər-lē How to pronounce disorderly (audio)
(ˌ)diz-
archaic
: in a disorderly manner

disorderly

2 of 2

adjective

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

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
However, and as always, creating a financial crisis through a disorderly unwind seems unlikely. Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Europe is trying to tame a supply chain that’s fractured, low-tech, disorderly and rife for abuse by thousands of small farmers and surreptitious middlemen. Mumbi Gitau, Fortune Europe, 27 Feb. 2024 About a week later, more teens were arrested in connection to a string of crimes including a robbery, a disorderly incident in Carew Tower and breaking into cars. The Enquirer, 9 Feb. 2024 The Thunderbirds maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding lewd and lascivious conduct, including but not limited to, disorderly or violent behavior and vulgar or violent language. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 24 Jan. 2024 Cobb also found Grant guilty of committing an act of physical violence on the Capitol grounds and disorderly and disruptive conduct on the Capitol grounds, both misdemeanors. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2024 Yoder, a locksmith, faced four misdemeanor counts: entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; violent entry and disorderly conduct in the Capitol; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024 As the company teetered on the brink of meltdown, the government stepped in and ordered a debt restructuring intended to prevent a disorderly collapse from wreaking havoc on the economy and sparking social unrest. Laura He, CNN, 18 July 2023 The on-duty officer was originally responding to a call that Vance was being disorderly. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 21 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1560, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of disorderly was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near disorderly

Cite this Entry

“Disorderly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disorderly. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

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