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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
  • Both parties emerged from the progressive era as messy coalitions of diverse constituencies and interests, not uniform ideologies.
    — Isaac Arnsdorf, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026
  • This is where things get messy, and many folks — oligarchs in particular — become invested in keeping the general voter confused.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of messy
Adjective
  • The tech world has always had a self-consciously rebellious relationship with societal norms.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Costarring Katey Sagal, Amy Davidson, James Garner, and David Spade, the series followed the futile attempts of Ritter’s Paul Hennessy and Sagal’s Cate Hennessy to tame their rebellious teenage daughter, Bridget (Cuoco).
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • The air space easily becomes crowded and in the case of moving stories like car chases, a bit unpredictable and chaotic.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • And in the Prokofiev, the Philharmonic delivers a thrilling mix of chaotic exuberance and acrobatic precision.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • Together, the two embark on an anarchic mother-and-daughter journey to reconnect.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The whole thing is an anarchic delirium reminiscent of the kind experienced by Bart and Milhouse after drinking an all-syrup Super Squishee; thankfully, the comedown is quick and relatively painless.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 June 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 film stars Ronan, 32, as Maria, a passionate teacher who is struggling to keep her class in order thanks to one unruly child, Danny (Eddie Waller).
    — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
  • That’s because unruly strands can be a deal-breaker on even your best hair day.
    — Deanna Pai, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of unruly
Adjective
  • After the game on Sunday, Harbaugh called the performance sloppy.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Sunday’s season-opening debacle — a sloppy, uninspired and uninspiring 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium — was a first, giant step back for these Chargers.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 14 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 23 Sep. 2026.

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