1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
unruly pupils were given detention as a matter of course
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
given to resisting control or discipline by others
a camp that was known as a place where unruly youths were given their last chance to shape up
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
unruly mobs roamed the streets of the capital after the government leaders had fled
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unruly
But this was no Ryder Cup, the likes of which was marred by unruly behavior from the New York fans last year at Bethpage.
—
ABC News,
22 June 2026
Inserra said complaints about unruly short-term rental guests are becoming more frequent.
—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Watching the film feels less like being transported into a different universe than putting on X-ray goggles to look at our own — and finding, under the despair, an unruly sense of hope.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
The unruly behavior included damaging four NYPD cars, trying to flip a taxi, throwing glass bottles at police and shutting down streets to car traffic.
—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unruly
ABC News,
22 June 2026
Inserra said complaints about unruly short-term rental guests are becoming more frequent.
—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Watching the film feels less like being transported into a different universe than putting on X-ray goggles to look at our own — and finding, under the despair, an unruly sense of hope.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
The unruly behavior included damaging four NYPD cars, trying to flip a taxi, throwing glass bottles at police and shutting down streets to car traffic.
—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unruly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unruly
Adjective
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This could bring about sudden ideas, or trigger rebellious impulses and creative imagination.
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In 2000 at age 15, he was sent to live in Australia with a host family because his father thought Zhang was too rebellious to stay in China.
Adjective
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The weather service’s forecast discussion for Kansas City said the stubborn heat could last through the Fourth of July.
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Against all odds, the stubborn housing market has become a hotspot for young talent.
Adjective
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Guo was convicted of nine of 12 criminal charges during a seven-week trial that prosecutors said showcased his deception of thousands of investors in bogus deals that enabled Guo’s lavish lifestyle.
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In May 2025, a Placer County criminal grand jury indicted both men.
Adjective
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Starmer had previously vowed to stand in any formal Labour leadership race triggered by rebel lawmakers who feating a 2029 election wipeout sought to replace him.
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Many rebel groups are offshoots of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which had been fighting to overthrow the government since the 1960s and had been the country's largest guerrilla organization.
Adjective
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And, for those with genuinely unmanageable debt, filing for bankruptcy offers a reset, though there are trade-offs to weigh.
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Today, people amass unmanageable debt simply to keep faith with a story that feels increasingly detached from their reality.
Adjective
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For the anarchic, nearly surreal nature of the bits that make legendary cinematic daredevils ranging from Buster Keaton to Jackie Chan seem like wimps.
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In a nod to the Marx Brothers’ anarchic spirit, Ramseur announced the project on April 1.
Adjective
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To a defiant Son, however, the party hasn’t even started.
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Terri Hupfer, draped in a Pride flag and a Giants’ issued Pride T-shirt, drove 90 minutes from her Delta home to join Tuesday’s pregame gathering, which was organized online and drew more media and police than defiant (or supportive) fans.
Adjective
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The jealousy that emanates from every pore of this guy is uncontrollable.
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An uncontrollable laugh when tickled is vastly different from a polite laugh in a meeting, an infectious laugh during a movie, or a nervous little giggle after making a mistake.
Cite this Entry
“Unruly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unruly. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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