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
Your brother had similar pressure put on him by the national team after disobeying instructions and speaking out.
—
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Nikolas Hart, 25, with six counts, including felony animal cruelty and misdemeanors related to allegations of domestic violence, witness tampering and disobeying a court order.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
He was arraigned Monday and pleaded not guilty to one felony count of animal cruelty, one misdemeanor charge each of injury to a spouse or cohabitant and attempting to dissuade a victim or witness, and three counts of disobeying a court order to not contact the victim.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
State police said Bishop was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, evading responsibility, driving the wrong way on a divided highway and first-degree reckless endangerment.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Michael Schade, who works in the department’s traffic division, said most e-bike accidents were caused by riders disobeying basic traffic rules, like running red lights and not stopping at stop signs.
—Alissa Gary, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
Michael Schade, who works in the department’s traffic division, said most e-bike accidents were caused by riders disobeying basic traffic rules, like running red lights and not stopping at stop signs.
—Alissa Gary, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Nikolas Hart, 25, with six counts, including felony animal cruelty and misdemeanors related to allegations of domestic violence, witness tampering and disobeying a court order.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
He was arraigned Monday and pleaded not guilty to one felony count of animal cruelty, one misdemeanor charge each of injury to a spouse or cohabitant and attempting to dissuade a victim or witness, and three counts of disobeying a court order to not contact the victim.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
State police said Bishop was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, evading responsibility, driving the wrong way on a divided highway and first-degree reckless endangerment.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Michael Schade, who works in the department’s traffic division, said most e-bike accidents were caused by riders disobeying basic traffic rules, like running red lights and not stopping at stop signs.
—Alissa Gary, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
Michael Schade, who works in the department’s traffic division, said most e-bike accidents were caused by riders disobeying basic traffic rules, like running red lights and not stopping at stop signs.
—Alissa Gary, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disobeying
Verb
-
The pope ignoring atrocities The papal mission appears to have overlooked a visit to Nigeria.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The beats lazily play into aughts pastiche, ignoring the 15 years of mutation that have morphed trap into plugg, rage, drill, and SahBabii.—
Stephen Kearse,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her suit accuses the company of violating the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, intentionally inflicting emotional distress, and wrongfully terminating her.—
Irin Carmon,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
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Cawthorn paid a $17,458 fine to the Federal Elections Commission in April 2025 after violating campaign finance law, The Charlotte Observer reported previously.—
Mary Ramsey
April 22,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Schomburg spent his life defying these prohibitions and erasures.—
Laura E. Helton,
Literary Hub,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Many among the global left see Sánchez as a progressive hero for defying Trump, while in Spain, the American president has distracted from Sánchez’s domestic challenges.—
Lauren Morganbesser,
semafor.com,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Punk then resorted to mocking Reigns.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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In non-CinemaCon news, the looksmaxx influencer managed to unite the internets in mocking his dew-eyed meltdown and interview walk-off over being asked modestly difficult questions about his reputation (instead of being asked, say, which moisturizer is best for post-jaw hammering).—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The plainclothes detectives, who were wearing NYPD vests, then dragged Brown on the floor, over shards of broken glass, to the front of the store, ordering him to stop resisting.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Kessman suggests resisting the temptation to start deep-cleaning or creating an entire organizing system at this stage.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disobeying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disobeying. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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