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
What is the penalty for disobeying a traffic signal?
—
Emery Glover, Des Moines Register, 16 Feb. 2026
The country's Supreme Court of Justice removed him from office in 2017 and sentenced him to prison for disobeying a court order to remove barricades during protests against the government of then-President Nicolás Maduro.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2026
The driver, identified as 50-year-old Dawn Dubois, was arrested and charged with operating under the Influence, disobeying the signal of an officer and failure to drive in proper lane, according to state police.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 29 Jan. 2026
But German General Dietrich von Choltitz is credited with disobeying Hitler’s command.
—Sally Susman, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
The fact that on this occasion senior officers chose a very light touch, preserving still-new representative institutions while not directly disobeying a direct presidential order, is extraordinary – and deserves far more comment and commendation than has been received.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
The mayor and governor of Minnesota need to be investigated for causing chaos in the streets, disobeying federal laws and causing riots at the expense of a deceased person.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
The plaintiffs disagreed, accusing the department of disobeying Cobb’s prior order.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2026
In response, the Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents Pakota Valley, filed a new lawsuit against the policy and filed a motion alleging the city is disobeying court orders.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 6 Jan. 2026
Emery Glover, Des Moines Register, 16 Feb. 2026
The country's Supreme Court of Justice removed him from office in 2017 and sentenced him to prison for disobeying a court order to remove barricades during protests against the government of then-President Nicolás Maduro.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2026
The driver, identified as 50-year-old Dawn Dubois, was arrested and charged with operating under the Influence, disobeying the signal of an officer and failure to drive in proper lane, according to state police.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 29 Jan. 2026
But German General Dietrich von Choltitz is credited with disobeying Hitler’s command.
—Sally Susman, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
The fact that on this occasion senior officers chose a very light touch, preserving still-new representative institutions while not directly disobeying a direct presidential order, is extraordinary – and deserves far more comment and commendation than has been received.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
The mayor and governor of Minnesota need to be investigated for causing chaos in the streets, disobeying federal laws and causing riots at the expense of a deceased person.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
The plaintiffs disagreed, accusing the department of disobeying Cobb’s prior order.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2026
In response, the Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents Pakota Valley, filed a new lawsuit against the policy and filed a motion alleging the city is disobeying court orders.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disobeying
Verb
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This authoritarian apparatus has relied on mass killings to ensure its survival while ignoring the basic and inalienable rights of citizens—including the fundamental right to seek change in the political system.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
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Similar to Gray’s case, the Crumbleys were charged for ignoring warning signs that their children could be capable of violence and allowing their children access to guns.—
Jozsef Papp,
AJC.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ramsey Orta, who famously recorded the police chokehold killing of Eric Garner in 2014, is back in legal hot water, accused of violating his supervised release in a gun case by assaulting two men in a Brooklyn smoke shop last July.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Rice was suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The show utilizes vivid color and energetic music to encourage kids to participate in the various adventures and activities, whether that’s mimicking Danny’s dance moves, flying like an airplane, or battling the aforementioned gravity-defying goldfish.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
14 Feb. 2026
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Costco, by contrast, is betting that visible, if measured, support for diversity can coexist with—and even underpin—a booming business, turning the warehouse club into an unlikely bellwether for how far corporate America is willing to go in defying the president’s DEI directive.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This self-mocking move may be just the prelude to a fuller jeans-guy renaissance, Heffernan suggested.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
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Strickland said, mocking NFL leadership.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The man was arrested and was being held in county jail in lieu of $100,000 bail on suspicion of robbery and resisting an officer, according to online jail records.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
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The opposite happens, and the metal strengthens, resisting the deformation.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disobeying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disobeying. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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