as in ignoring
to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of
students who disobey their teachers and use cell phones in class drivers who consistently disobey traffic laws
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Recent Examples of disobeying
Illinois State Police cited him on suspicion of disobeying a police officer – a petty offense punishable by a fine – Cook County court records show, and is scheduled to appear in court November 25.
—
Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
In Missouri, disobeying traffic lights is considered a moving violation.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
The next day, Alex begs Mia to put her on TMS to talk about the deep fake, but Mia won’t, because that would be directly disobeying Stella and Celine’s order for Alex to keep quiet.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025
Fischer faces charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, reckless driving, disobeying traffic control signals, failure to drive in the proper lane, disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to display plates and engaging police in a pursuit.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
In today’s arrests one person was charged with disorderly conduct/breach of peace and three others were charged with disobeying a police officer.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 7 July 2023
Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
In Missouri, disobeying traffic lights is considered a moving violation.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
The next day, Alex begs Mia to put her on TMS to talk about the deep fake, but Mia won’t, because that would be directly disobeying Stella and Celine’s order for Alex to keep quiet.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025
Fischer faces charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, reckless driving, disobeying traffic control signals, failure to drive in the proper lane, disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to display plates and engaging police in a pursuit.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
In today’s arrests one person was charged with disorderly conduct/breach of peace and three others were charged with disobeying a police officer.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 7 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disobeying
Verb
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Wrapped in a blanked on the sofa, binging reruns of The Oprah Show on YouTube and gleefully ignoring emails all morning is my idea of heaven.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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On July 4, after Zane confessed to feeling guilty about ignoring more texts from his family members, the chatbot offered to help Zane craft a terse message to them.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In September, Nevada’s Bureau of Water Pollution Control fined the company nearly $250,000 for violating environmental regulations nearly 800 times in the last two years, including for spilling untreated groundwater onto public roads and not reporting it to authorities, ProPublica first reported.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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Council President Joe LaCava simply gave a hand-slap to Surf Cup for violating the deed restrictions, granting it the right to continue with commercial use.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The few who have flirted with defying the president have quickly seen their reelection fortunes falter.—
Peter D. Feaver,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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For the first time in years, Biles isn’t chasing a new gravity-defying skill or training for the next big competition.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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These contrivances became so well known that, in 2009, the All-American Rejects guitarist Nick Wheeler spent much of his appearance mocking them.—
Kim Hew-Low,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
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The music video is a single shot of Welch in the back of a car, singing along in a suit, sporting shades and a cigar, both mocking and inhabiting the position of male dominance.—
Grace Byron,
New Yorker,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Martinez and Ruiz were present in court Wednesday and both have entered not guilty pleas to a federal charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Dunn is charged with assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating and interfering with a federal officer.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disobeying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disobeying. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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