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 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

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 Observing which plants succeed can also guide future efforts, gradually transforming a disorderly patch into a more reliable and productive space. — Dr. Lauren Kurtz, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2026 Medina faced charges that included obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, and several misdemeanors that included destruction of government property and disorderly and disruptive conduct. — ABC News, 19 May 2026 Ceballos, who formerly served as mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, for two terms, pleaded guilty in April to three counts of disorderly election conduct following a prosecution by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach’s office. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026 Ceballos pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of disorderly election conduct in Comanche County court April 20, agreeing to pay a $2,000 fine and serve a year of probation. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for disorderly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disorderly
  1. criminal
  2. chaotic
  3. rebellious
  4. messy
  5. anarchic
  6. littered
  7. unruly
  8. sloppy
Adjective
  • He had not been involved in a criminal case before in the county, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Casey McNerthney said.
    — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 28 July 2026
  • Now, the community is about to enter what could be the final chapter in the criminal cases stemming from the state’s deadliest school shooting.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • The hub of the spaceship was too crowded and chaotic for communication, so Frank Kuligowski motioned his pal to the peace of a nearby corridor.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 26 July 2026
  • The first day used to be so chaotic and humorous in the old days, with players not knowing how to put on helmets let alone figure out shoulder pads and struggling in line drills.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • The inspiration behind this rock-and-roll icon, however, lies in Hindu spiritual symbolism, whose meanings contrast sharply with the rebellious image the logo projects.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 July 2026
  • Judy Davis stars as Sybylla, a rebellious young woman in 19th century Australia who longs to be a writer, but her traditionalist parents refuse to indulge those dreams, sending her to board with her wealthy grandmother instead.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • Whether that promise survives contact with the messy, unsupervised way people actually use chatbots — typing symptoms into a phone in the middle of the night, hoping for reassurance rather than a referral — is a separate question.
    — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • After a messy eight minutes, the remaining corn dog sticks and leftover food were tallied up for each contestant.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of messy
Adjective
  • 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
  • The story links the creatures’ anarchic physical comedy to silent-era pioneers such as Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 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
  • Video shows hordes of apparently military-aged men smiling and posing for cameras, some carrying swimming flippers, and sprinting through the streets as authorities struggle to corral the unruly masses.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
  • In one snap, the President, viewed from above, points his finger crossly, as if scolding a scrum of unruly children.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
Definition of unruly
Adjective
  • Between snot, sloppy kisses, spit up, poop and grabby little hands, there are plenty of other pathways by which a lactating parent’s body could get information about what antibodies to put on the menu.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 29 July 2026
  • Just barely sloppy enough for the Court of Appeals to conclude that the mere recital that the interests were held in TBE was not enough.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of sloppy

Phrases Containing disorderly

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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 2 Aug. 2026.

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