obedient

adjective

obe·di·ent | \ ō-ˈbē-dē-ənt

, ə- \

Definition of obedient

: submissive to the restraint or command of authority : willing to obey an obedient child an obedient dog obedient to those whom he feared— A. N. Wilson

Other Words from obedient Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about obedient

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for obedient

obedient, docile, tractable, amenable mean submissive to the will of another. obedient implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority. obedient to the government docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance. a docile child tractable suggests having a character that permits easy handling or managing. tractable animals amenable suggests a willingness to yield or cooperate because of a desire to be agreeable or because of a natural open-mindedness. amenable to new ideas

Examples of obedient in a Sentence

that boy is so obedient that he does everything the first time he is asked

Recent Examples on the Web If your canine companion isn't already obedient, start with the basics, such as come, down, sit, and stay. — Lauren Corona, chicagotribune.com, "Dog agility training for beginners," 22 Feb. 2021 Anna, an obedient daughter-in-law and placid society matron, took to the job with apparent ease. — Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, "The Pre-Civil War Fight Against White Supremacy," 18 Jan. 2021 Both Beaudoin and Gannon called on dog owners to be responsible for their pets and to be obedient to the new rules. — Graydon Megan, chicagotribune.com, "Lake Zurich now allowing dogs on leash in village parks, nixing 17-year-old rule that banned it," 23 Nov. 2020 But being obedient is costing me and my employees when the laws are not applied evenly. — Dallas News, "Court halts El Paso shutdown even as coronavirus death toll nears 750," 14 Nov. 2020 Most of all, the young demonstrators chafe at how conscription and other martial traditions are being used to try to create an orderly, obedient populace that hews to the military’s command. — Hannah Beech, New York Times, "Almost Like Clockwork, Talk of a Military Coup Follows Thai Protests," 2 Nov. 2020 Both womxn were told to prioritize motherhood and being an obedient wife over their life ambitions. — Fairoj Tashnia, refinery29.com, "Why I Want A Degree In My Hand Before A Ring On My Finger," 30 Oct. 2020 The real Amstel of my childhood was obedient to the point of asceticism, a hunting dog who barely hunted. — Natalie Krebs, Field & Stream, "Giving Up the Ghosts," 5 Oct. 2020 What’s even worse is that the work doesn’t go forward because the theaters are way too obedient to these critics. — Los Angeles Times, "40 Black playwrights on the theater industry’s insidious racism," 14 Oct. 2020

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