as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the disobedient child refused to eat his vegetables
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Recent Examples of disobedient
Kennedy Tolson is the sly queen of side-eye as the disobedient new housemaid Nancy.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
These first two episodes also give us the first appearance of Uma Thurman’s character, Charley, who seems to be recruiting serial killers and taking out disobedient ones in the Tri-State area.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 11 July 2025
An immaterial figure who lives where there is no light, his role is to kidnap children who are too noisy and disobedient to their parents' wishes.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 27 June 2025
In 2003, as the House considered an overhaul to Medicare, the party’s leadership issued threats against disobedient Republicans who saw the bill as a giveaway to pharmaceutical and insurance companies.
—James D’angelo, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019
See All Example Sentences for disobedient
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
These first two episodes also give us the first appearance of Uma Thurman’s character, Charley, who seems to be recruiting serial killers and taking out disobedient ones in the Tri-State area.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 11 July 2025
An immaterial figure who lives where there is no light, his role is to kidnap children who are too noisy and disobedient to their parents' wishes.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 27 June 2025
In 2003, as the House considered an overhaul to Medicare, the party’s leadership issued threats against disobedient Republicans who saw the bill as a giveaway to pharmaceutical and insurance companies.
—James D’angelo, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019
See All Example Sentences for disobedient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disobedient
Adjective
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The temperamental Moon activates your 3rd House of Communication, forming a supportive trine to rebellious Uranus in your 7th House of Companions.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
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The series picks up 15 years after the finale of The Handmaid's Tale, and follows Agnes and Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a rebellious newcomer.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In December 2024, a rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham swept through the country with stunning speed, toppling the Assad regime that had ruled Syria since 1970.—
Steve H. Hanke,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
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In a message Monday on X, Sánchez said that so far there were no signs indicating that the plane was attacked by rebel groups that operate near Puerto Leguizamo.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As a teenager, Bell flocked to people with a defiant edge.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Among the defiant political projects that marked Bernstein’s life was, of course, his sexuality.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disobedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disobedient. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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