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obedience

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noun obe·di·ence \ ō-ˈbē-dē-ən(t)s , ə- \

Definition of obedience

1 a :an act or instance of obeying
b :the quality or state of being obedient
  • Children should learn obedience and respect for authority.
2 :a sphere of jurisdiction
  • landowners within the king's obedience
; especially :an ecclesiastical or sometimes secular dominion
  • under the obedience of the Bishop of Rome

See obedience defined for kids

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Examples of obedience in a Sentence

  1. the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits

  2. the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command

Recent Examples of obedience from the Web

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

First Known Use of obedience

13th century

obedience Synonyms

Synonyms
compliance, conformity, submission, subordination
Antonyms
balkiness, contrariness, contumacy, defiance, disobedience, frowardness, insubordination, intractability, noncompliance, obstreperousness, rebelling, rebellion, rebelliousness, recalcitrance, refractoriness, self-will, unruliness, waywardness, willfulness
Related Words
abidance, agreeability, amenability, teachableness, tractability, tractableness, trainability; acquiescence, capitulation, obeisance, obsequiousness, submissiveness, surrender, yielding; deference, docility, dutifulness, humility, meekness, modesty, servility, slavishness, subordinateness, subservience, subserviency; inhibition, repression, restraint, suppression; control, discipline, dutifulness, order
Near Antonyms
noncooperation, recusancy; disrespect, impudence, insolence, rudeness; insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, outbreak, revolt; hardheadedness, mulishness, mutinousness, obstinacy, obstinateness, perversity, pigheadedness, stubbornness; misbehavior, mischievousness, naughtiness; dissent, dissidence

Phrases Related to OBEDIENCE

Related Phrases

OBEDIENCE Defined for Kids

obedience

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noun obe·di·ence \ ō-ˈbē-dē-əns \

Definition of obedience for Students

:the act of obeying :willingness to obey

Learn More about obedience

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for obedience Spanish Central: Translation of obedience Nglish: Translation of obedience for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of obedience for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obedience

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Examples: obedience in a Sentence