INSUBORDINATE Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

insubordinate 1 of 2

adjective

ˌin(t)-sə-ˈbȯr-də-nət

Definition of insubordinate

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control the junior officer was court-martialed for being insubordinate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

insubordinate

2 of 2

noun

as in rebel

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Dissimilar Words

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 insubordinate

Adjective

What is supposed to be a brief stay is extended when Pepper is deemed insubordinate by the cold and menacing staff. — Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026 New research shows Hinton’s premonitions about the insubordinate streak of AI may already be a reality. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026 No one’s arc is insubordinate; no one’s emotional logic is insignificant. — Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026 In a coastal town on the Gulf of Mexico lives the insubordinate Daniel, the owner of a small motel. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insubordinate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for insubordinate

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

Noun

As Houthi rebels closed in, Eshraq Abdel Gelil and her husband fled their home, walking through the mountains before catching a ride to a nearby city.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Saudi Arabia struggles to rally support With the world’s biggest oil exporter under fire from rebels backed by the Saudis’ regional adversary, the kingdom needs a safe outlet for its crude as well as military assistance.

— Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of rebel

Adjective

Within 48 hours after Scott’s death, a photo of Winston — shirtless and defiant — made international news.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026
Teams — worried about how a politically defiant Black quarterback on the roster would impact their bottom lines — over the next several seasons signed dozens of inferior quarterbacks to round out their depth charts.

— Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of defiant

Noun

The festival was an impressive feat of planning and production, an execution of vision that may or may not translate into alternative, insurgent thought or actions.

— Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
The insecurity landscape is also more chaotic because some groups, after initially being invited to help defend against insurgents, turned into terrorists, said Dengiyefa Angalapu, an analyst at the Center for Democracy and Development in Abuja.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of insurgent

Noun

In 1983, the 12m yacht Azzurra — flying the YCCS burgee — represented Italy for the first time in the long history of the America’s Cup, the oldest sports trophy in international sport, finishing third in the challenger series at its first attempt.

— Andrew Rice, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Anta Kids, meanwhile, has become a formidable challenger, having crossed 10 billion yuan in annual gross merchandise volume by the end of 2024 and continuing to record high-single-digit offline growth into the first quarter of this year.

— Li Jun, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of challenger

Noun

In November 1971, Berkeley, California, became the first sanctuary city in the country when 12 local churches inspired the City Council to pass a resolution offering sanctuary to draft resisters.

— Menika Dirkson, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
Clemson resister Dabo Swinney has driven his program into the ground.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Definition of resister

Noun

Analysts say the clashes at the Base 101 at the Niamey international airport could have gone either way because of the mutineers’ determination and large numbers until the Russian troops stepped in.

— Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
The fate of the mutineers was not immediately clear and authorities did not disclose any charges against them.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of mutineer

Browse Nearby Words

instruments

insubordinate

insubordinates

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Insubordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insubordinate. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of insubordinate

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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