Synonyms of disobedient

disobedient

adjective

ˌdis-ə-ˈbē-dē-ənt 

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control

the disobedient child refused to eat his vegetables

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebellious
• rebel
• defiant
• stubborn
• willful
• insubordinate
• contumacious
• contrary
• unruly
• naughty
• recalcitrant
• wayward
• mischievous
• obstreperous
• refractory
• rigid
• intractable
• restive
• ungovernable
• adamant
• dogged
• froward
• balky
• dissident
• untoward
• incompliant
• wild
• rude
• uncooperative
• unrelenting
• uncontrollable
• recusant
• bad
• insurgent
• resistant
• obstinate
• mutinous
• peevish
• noncooperative
• headstrong
• obdurate
• negativistic
• opinionated
• unbending
• uncompromising
• inflexible
• unmanageable
• mulish
• implacable
• undisciplined
• insolent
• disorderly
• immovable
• pertinacious
• hardheaded
• unyielding
• self-willed
• fractious
• disrespectful
• monkeying
• impudent
• perverse
• pigheaded
• errant
• wrongheaded
• adamantine
• nonconformist
• ornery
• misbehaving
• inconsiderate
• discourteous
• ungracious
• uncivil
• unmannerly
• uncouth
• impertinent
• impolite
• ill-mannered
• monkeyish
• ill-natured
• ill-bred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obedient
• submissive
• docile
• compliant
• cooperative
• conformable
• amenable
• tractable
• amiable
• acquiescent
• deferential
• agreeable
• behaved
• disciplined
• biddable
• yielding
• polite
• respectful
• courteous
• obliging
• well-bred
• servile
• ruly
• subservient
• slavish
• proper
• obsequious
• orderly
• decorous
• mannerly
• controllable
• manageable
• trainable
• kowtowing
• governable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of disobedient

As a drone whirred overhead and hooded people spray-painted the building and its fixtures, the protestors advocated for more civilly disobedient methods. — Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026

The news organizations also found that Garrison employees frequently removed students from their classrooms and sent them to crisis rooms when the students were upset, disobedient or aggressive. — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2025

But the main Putin-era methods for curtailing disobedient media proved to be lawfare and corporate takeovers. — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Sep. 2025

Kennedy Tolson is the sly queen of side-eye as the disobedient new housemaid Nancy. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025