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disorderly

adjective

Definition of disorderlynext
1
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority disorderly mobs roamed the streets after the fall of the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness disorderly piles of clothes on various tables about the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disorderly Habib, who joined the department in 2007, was responding to a 911 call at a Bronx catering hall in 2023 when a drunk and disorderly man resisted arrest, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 He was then placed into custody for disorderly public intoxication and transported to Broward County’s main jail. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Police said one concertgoer was issued a summons for disorderly conduct and another for disorderly behavior. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 13 July 2026 The five travelers are being investigated in connection with assaulting a police officer, fighting in a public place, resisting arrest, malicious damage and disorderly behavior in a police station. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for disorderly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disorderly
  1. criminal
  2. messy
  3. rebellious
  4. chaotic
  5. anarchic
  6. littered
  7. unruly
  8. sloppy
Adjective
  • Both raised concerns about the 2024 version, telling state lawmakers that the universities could face criminal penalties, civil fines or the loss of federal contracts.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • To spoil more of the joke’s punch lines would be criminal, but rest assured her son eventually confronts her about it.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • So far, the adoption of AI in production workflows have been stalled due to legal constraints around ownership, among other things involving messy copyright questions.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Four years ago, Pugh’s movie Don’t Worry Darling was the talk of the Venice Film Festival due to rumored behind-the-scenes drama and a messy rollout, including a press conference Pugh missed—allegedly due to a scheduling conflict.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of messy
Adjective
  • Vivienne Westwood, who died in 2022, helped define the punk fashion movement and became internationally known for rebellious designs that challenged conventional ideas of fashion and style.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Emma and Lizzie belong to a wealthy New England family and were once close, but as Lizzie and her rebellious housemaid Bridget Sullivan (Vicky Krieps) become deeply entangled, their relationship strains.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • Saturdays on the couch before the widescreen with beer, chicken wings and cheese dip might also be the best way to escape our ugly, chaotic politics.
    — Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have discovered that passing waves through a special class of synthetic media forces them to abandon chaotic scattering entirely.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • The poet, Pavese implies, is a creature of Chaos—that anarchic state in which good is mixed with bad and monsters mingle with men and gods.
    — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Together, the two embark on an anarchic mother-and-daughter journey to reconnect.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of anarchic
Adjective
  • In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.
    — Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.
    — Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Definition of littered
Adjective
  • The change also covers medical emergencies that are not the airline’s fault, the removal of unruly passengers, certain cyberattacks, and aircraft damage caused by extreme weather or debris.
    — Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Created under O’Hare’s leadership, the decorum policy prohibits personal attacks, impertinent, profane, obscene, or slanderous remarks as well as threatening, disruptive or unruly behavior.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of unruly
Adjective
  • The Tigers’ middling performance against Troy and sloppy play in spurts has cast some aspersions on their aspirations.
    — PJ Green September 22, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The Dodgers took advantage of the Giants’ sloppy infield play to load the bases for De Paula, who lined a two-run single into shallow center field.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of sloppy

Phrases Containing disorderly

Browse Nearby Words

disorderliness
disorderly
disorderly house
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Cite this Entry

“Disorderly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disorderly. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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