as in rebellion
refusal to obey
they gave up on training the dog to fetch because of his constant disobedience
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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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Through the personal stories of activists and intense courtroom battles, host Brendan Patrick Hughes explores themes of faith, rebellion, and the complexities of confronting injustice, ultimately offering a compelling blueprint for modern activism.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
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Focus Features has set a Sept 11 release for the Paul Greengrass directed, Andrew Garfield starring The Uprising, which follows the untold true story of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That hope is a powerful statement of defiance in the face of the realities of war and the broader sentiment in Israeli and Palestinian public opinion.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
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However, an artist’s innate defiance reaps the best art.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
19 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 28 Apr. 2026.
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