as in rebellion
refusal to obey
was fired for chronic insubordination
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Recent Examples of insubordination
Grier hired Brian Flores, whom the organization fired after three seasons because of his alleged insubordination, and difficulty working with people, and then hired McDaniel after the franchise shot their shot and missed on Sean Payton.
—
Omar Kelly
october 31, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
One agent was disciplined for insubordination after refusing to go along with the plan to embarrass Comey in this way.
—The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
His insubordination is so appalling that Stella urges Pascal to remove him from Firehouse 51.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 1 Oct. 2025
The defendant had been criminally convicted in federal court of violating the Espionage Act by obstructing recruitment and enlistment, as well as causing and attempting to cause insubordination in the military.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
The experience haunts Ortegas through the season, affecting her morale and pushing her even into outright insubordination.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
So no one gets married, but Brian does get a bunch of lashes for his insubordination.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Roger Alford, who was fired in July for alleged insubordination, claims that political appointees under Bondi's direction overruled career staff and settled a major tech merger—Hewlett Packard Enterprise's $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks—in a manner that undermined the rule of law.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Bondi fired him for insubordination.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Omar Kelly
october 31, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
One agent was disciplined for insubordination after refusing to go along with the plan to embarrass Comey in this way.
—The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
His insubordination is so appalling that Stella urges Pascal to remove him from Firehouse 51.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 1 Oct. 2025
The defendant had been criminally convicted in federal court of violating the Espionage Act by obstructing recruitment and enlistment, as well as causing and attempting to cause insubordination in the military.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
The experience haunts Ortegas through the season, affecting her morale and pushing her even into outright insubordination.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
So no one gets married, but Brian does get a bunch of lashes for his insubordination.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Roger Alford, who was fired in July for alleged insubordination, claims that political appointees under Bondi's direction overruled career staff and settled a major tech merger—Hewlett Packard Enterprise's $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks—in a manner that undermined the rule of law.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Bondi fired him for insubordination.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insubordination
Noun
-
While details of Gatwa’s character are not yet known, Erivo’s Jayne is described as a trailblazing fairy whose defiant streak sparks a rebellion.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
-
From its beginning, the leaders of the rebellion well understood the global reach and resonance of their great struggle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Co-directed by Egyptian filmmaker Mai Saad and Gazan cinematographer Ahmed Al Danaf, the feature documentary stands as both testimony and act of defiance.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
11 Nov. 2025
-
However, colors can also pull out negative emotions in people, such as defiance (red), coldness (blue), fear (yellow), and boredom (green).—
Daniel Fusch,
Ascend Agency,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
At times, Carol’s admirable rebelliousness seems to come at the cost of self-flagellating destruction, a badge of honor to be miserable.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The performance goes from fiery to ineffectual as DiCaprio’s character, Bob, loses his youthful rebelliousness in a haze of pot and resignation.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Moja Rowa Colorful disobedience is how Moja Rowa cofounders Yelena Mojarova and Edward Benedikt Sittler characterize their creative spirit and brand ethos.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The ladies move closer to God through acts of disobedience, debauchery, and disgrace; by visiting seedy places and commingling with the disreputable.—
Nicole Flattery,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Either of these original conditions would compel us to curb our aspirations to self-making, self-saving, and self-liberation as harmful forms of willfulness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
-
While this change reduces the explicit admission of willfulness, a narrative is still required.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The manner in which Miller kept the remains showed disrespect, Carpenter said.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The dissonance between their bacchanalian ritual and Adelaida’s silent, solitary suffering is marked, and the disrespect for the dead further underlined when a gravedigger tersely shoos her away from the graveside, reminding her that the area is unsafe, especially at nightfall.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insubordination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insubordination. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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