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 chaotic
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
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Recent Examples of disorderly
She was charged with disorderly intoxication, battery on an officer/firefighter/EMT, resisting arrest with violence and threatening a public servant, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
—
Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
People with the disorder usually experience a combination of psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorderly behavior.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Cincinnati's Opening Day ended with disorderly behavior and arrests at The Banks and elsewhere.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2026
People can be arrested for drunk and disorderly behavior, urinating in public or having open alcohol containers in vehicles.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disorderly
Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
People with the disorder usually experience a combination of psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorderly behavior.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Cincinnati's Opening Day ended with disorderly behavior and arrests at The Banks and elsewhere.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2026
People can be arrested for drunk and disorderly behavior, urinating in public or having open alcohol containers in vehicles.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disorderly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disorderly
Adjective
-
When Richards began his career in criminal-justice advocacy, the idea of closing Rikers Island would have been a radical fantasy.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Jayvon Boyd, 27, was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the stabbing, which occurred the day before.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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The chaotic family life was cited when Cary Stayner pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the tourists’ murders; he was found mentally fit to stand trial.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
The start turned chaotic in seconds when Verstappen, who along with Leclerc almost immediately passed Antonelli, proceeded to completely pirouette, recovering but quickly finding himself in ninth.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Artist Sean Gordon Murphy has always had a rebellious indie streak to his work.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
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The Clash are singing of a city aflame, the Sex Pistols are somehow getting more popular after imploding on tour, and on every street corner, mohawks and safety pins are on rebellious display.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Pfizer outbid Novo Nordisk for Metsera in a messy M&A fight last year that involved dueling lawsuits and anticompetitive claims.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
-
While mixtures of two or three metals were messy and unstable, the five-metal combination paradoxically self-organized into a single, uniform product, streamlining 31 possible chemical outcomes into a single, precise nanocrystal.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Taccone’s film is certainly much more serious than the spoofy, anarchic projects he’s made in the past, including his work as a writer on Saturday Night Live.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
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Formed in the late 2010s, the band was inspired by the anarchic creativity of Japanese noise acts like Melt-Banana, Solmania, and Boredoms.—
Jude Noel,
Pitchfork,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
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Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
Adjective
-
The Marlins were sloppy early, committing two fielding errors (by left fielder Stowers and pitcher Anthony Bender).—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
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Now, that doesn’t excuse Amad’s extremely sloppy pass, straight to Dominik Szoboszlai, who ran through unchecked to score.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disorderly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disorderly. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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