obedient

adjective

obe·​di·​ent ō-ˈbē-dē-ənt 

ə-

: 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

obediently adverb

Synonyms of obedient

• docile
• submissive
• compliant
• biddable
• restrained
• conformable
• tractable
• amenable
• meek
• gentle

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

Richards gave millions of dollars to the cult, Eternal Values, while living a double life as both a globe-trotting supermodel and obedient cult member, as reported in a recent story in The Hollywood Reporter. —Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026

The Flaws are the typical employees of a German government office – quiet, obedient and spectacularly bad at their jobs. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026

How might Infantino continue to profess neutrality while still clearly taking a side, pretending to listen to every voice while remaining obedient to only one? —Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026

These stories usually involve a woman shucking societal norms of being nice, pretty, and obedient. —Literary Hub, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin oboedient-, oboediens, from present participle of oboedīre "to follow the commands of, submit to" — more at obey

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for obedient

• disobedient
• inexpedient
• expedient
• ingredient

Kids Definition

obedient

adjective

obe·​di·​ent ō-ˈbēd-ē-ənt 

ə-

: willing to obey

obediently adverb