Definition of OBEDIENT

Examples of obedient in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of obedient from the Web

Factor in its beefier brakes, its standard helical limited-slip differential, and its overall resistance to pitch, dive, and lean, and the Civic Si can really be driven hard yet remains eminently obedient.

— steve siler, Car and Driver, "2017 Honda Civic Si", 29 May 2017
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

— barbara bresnahan, Courant Community, "Moms, Sons Make Memories At Dance", 26 May 2017
Puccini’s opera indulges in an uncomfortable racial stereotype: the obedient, long-suffering Japanese geisha.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "‘Butterfly’ and ‘Carmen,’ in Bold and Vivid Cuts", 23 May 2017
Somewhere in the middle, computers will advance to the point where everyone will have, on their desk or in their pocket, the equivalent of an obedient idiot.

— loresjoberg, WIRED, "Alt Text: Artifical Dumbness Will Trigger Spam Apocalypse", 15 Apr. 2011

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.

Origin and Etymology of obedient

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin oboedient-, oboediens, from present participle of oboedire to obey

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First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

obedient Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

obedient