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
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
He is also accused of disobeying a superior officer and making a false official statement.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 9 Dec. 2025
Crow was one of six Democrats with military or national security backgrounds who recently released a video advising active-duty Pentagon personnel not to break the law, even if that means disobeying orders from above.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 2 Dec. 2025
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
Cate Charron, IndyStar, 6 Jan. 2026
He is also accused of disobeying a superior officer and making a false official statement.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 9 Dec. 2025
Crow was one of six Democrats with military or national security backgrounds who recently released a video advising active-duty Pentagon personnel not to break the law, even if that means disobeying orders from above.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 2 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disobeying
Verb
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Alyssa Farah Griffin attempted to cut in, with Navarro ignoring her in the moment.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
-
James said the administration has not provided evidence of fraud or misuse of child care funding in New York, while ignoring the standard processes for withholding such funds.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
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The 22-year-old woman died while in police custody after being detained for allegedly violating dress codes.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But there are people who are defying that comfort.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Jan. 2026
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In Iran, thousands of users have reportedly used Starlink to access the unfiltered internet, defying government restrictions despite the service not being officially approved.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ricky Gervais has hosted the Golden Globes five times, making Hollywood sweat with his take-no-prisoners approach to jokes mocking showbiz.—
William Earl,
Variety,
30 Dec. 2025
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Now Sweeney, 75, is breaking his silence on a decades-long feud with Chevy Chase after Chase proposed Sweeney appear in an SNL sketch mocking the AIDS epidemic.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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According to the department, Sutton currently faces three counts of resisting an officer, two counts of public intimidation, two counts of battery of a police officer, one count of disturbing the peace and one count of criminal trespassing.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Of the many types of basil, the classic Italian 'Treviso' variety stands out for resisting bitterness, staying tender longer, and being slow to flower even as summer heats up.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disobeying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disobeying. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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