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 anarchical
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unruly
As the physician and philosopher Jodi Halpern has pointed out, Osler believed that a doctor should aspire to be an island of calm in stormy seas, mastering her own unruly emotions with the force of rationality.
—
Rachel Pearson, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Thanks to an unruly accumulation of random furniture, however, the apartment initially felt equally cramped.
—Sophia Herring, Architectural Digest, 18 Sep. 2025
Parson’s future fashion leaders used riotous, unashamed, almost unruly brightness — fused with enormous amounts of structure, substance, and intent.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Venice City Police Deputy Commander Gianni Franzoi told CNN that unruly visitors are a result of the city's struggle with overtourism, with an increase in incidents.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unruly
Rachel Pearson, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Thanks to an unruly accumulation of random furniture, however, the apartment initially felt equally cramped.
—Sophia Herring, Architectural Digest, 18 Sep. 2025
Parson’s future fashion leaders used riotous, unashamed, almost unruly brightness — fused with enormous amounts of structure, substance, and intent.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Venice City Police Deputy Commander Gianni Franzoi told CNN that unruly visitors are a result of the city's struggle with overtourism, with an increase in incidents.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unruly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unruly
Adjective
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The Western world is experiencing something of a psychedelic renaissance, with an increasing amount of interest in drugs that decades ago were considered rebellious and dangerous to some groups but fun to others who used it while clubbing and attending raves.—
Soph Warnes,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
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Bob and Zoyd are both paranoid in the wake of their rebellious pasts.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For years, scientists have focused on finding ways to neutralize or eliminate this stubborn waste.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
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That ever-persistent chasm that has existed between white students and those of color in public schools has remained stubborn in Michigan, where more than 18% of Michigan's public school students are Black.—
Lily Altavena,
Freep.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Nine months after the longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled by a rebel offensive, Syria faces a litany of new challenges.—
Caroline Rose,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Iran and later Russia dispatched troops to save him, while Turkey and Gulf states backed rebel militias.—
Robin Yassin-Kassab,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For many families, those costs are unmanageable, and yet the emotional toll of being far away is even higher.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
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Tuition costs are soaring to unmanageable levels, once-stable education paths like computer science are now on rocky ground thanks to AI automation, and a diploma no longer guarantees a six-figure salary.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The department said the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners conducted a criminal history check with state and federal authorities before issuing a license.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
28 Sep. 2025
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The Iowa Department of Education issued Roberts a superintendent's license in 2023 after conducting criminal background checks, the district stated.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Palestinian Authority president vowed to world leaders that Hamas would have no role in governing post-war Gaza, in a defiant United Nations speech Thursday.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
25 Sep. 2025
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In a similar way, a man who is defiant stiffens his neck, squares his shoulders, lowers his brows, and clenches his fists with his knuckles forward.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The extended ovation following Kershaw’s ceremonious exit in the top of the fifth preceded the uncontrollable catharsis of Shohei Ohtani’s go-ahead home run in the bottom of the fifth, a three-run shot that pierced the Giants’ soul.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
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Under Jake’s watch, the burn has been more controlled, but is destined to erupt into the same uncontrollable flames.—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There are not many taboos at Burning Man, so those that persist at the otherwise staunchly anarchic event do so for a reason.—
Denver Nicks,
Rolling Stone,
14 Sep. 2025
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Reiner could be called a journeyman director, except what kind of journeyman director could make a movie as confident as When Harry Met Sally, or as anarchic as This Is Spinal Tap, or one that juggles as many tones as The Princess Bride?—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unruly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unruly. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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