as in rebellion
refusal to obey
they gave up on training the dog to fetch because of his constant disobedience
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disobedience
As litigation commenced and DHS officials were called to testify, judges became frustrated at the rampant false testimony and disobedience of the government.
—
Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
The passenger was arrested, and now faces charges of crime of resistance and disobedience.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
The streak of disobedience and Alonso’s demoralised acceptance of it summed up a coach who had hit a dead end.
—New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
In the end, her disobedience—forged in tandem with and in opposition to her tribe—felt unmoored without a fellow-Mitford’s pigtail to pull.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disobedience
Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
The passenger was arrested, and now faces charges of crime of resistance and disobedience.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
The streak of disobedience and Alonso’s demoralised acceptance of it summed up a coach who had hit a dead end.
—New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
In the end, her disobedience—forged in tandem with and in opposition to her tribe—felt unmoored without a fellow-Mitford’s pigtail to pull.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disobedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disobedience
Noun
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Executive produced by Mariska Hargitay, The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony is a lyrical coming-of-age journey as these girls turn their team into a small rebellion.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
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In Season 2, the two young couples will be tested and separated by forces beyond their control, as every clan chooses a side in the rebellion.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Her parents were raised under martial law and international isolation; defiance had seemed impossible.—
Michelle Kuo,
The Dial,
14 Apr. 2026
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For example, more than 280 Venezuelan migrants were sent to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison, where routine torture has been documented, in defiance of a federal court order.—
Erwin Chemerinsky,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The pseudo-goth hair and costume choices speak to an inner rebelliousness that isn’t so much unleashed as forced loose by a system that values the appearance of a mythical impartiality over her humanity, leaving her with little recourse but to step outside the confines of the law.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2026
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The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disobedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disobedience. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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