as in rebellion
refusal to obey
was fired for chronic insubordination
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 insubordination
Green Thumb asserted Contreras was terminated for insubordination and other reasons.
—
Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
Their prophet, the woman who brought Shakerism from Manchester, England all the way to the American colonies in 1774, played by Amanda Seyfried, learns of the insubordination.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Hallucinogenic sequences in which Kiri walks the alien version of Garden of Gethsemane lead into an entire subplot with the tulkun that culminates in a mini courtroom drama with our boy Payakan on trial for insubordination.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
This investigation was called for by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who accused Kelly and five other Democrats in the video of encouraging insubordination.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
During removal hearings in August, Corpus cited Monaghan’s insubordination as the reason for his termination.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
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
Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
Their prophet, the woman who brought Shakerism from Manchester, England all the way to the American colonies in 1774, played by Amanda Seyfried, learns of the insubordination.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Hallucinogenic sequences in which Kiri walks the alien version of Garden of Gethsemane lead into an entire subplot with the tulkun that culminates in a mini courtroom drama with our boy Payakan on trial for insubordination.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
This investigation was called for by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who accused Kelly and five other Democrats in the video of encouraging insubordination.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
During removal hearings in August, Corpus cited Monaghan’s insubordination as the reason for his termination.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insubordination
Noun
-
And, of course, boarding schools themselves can be immensely silly, dominated by boys’ pranks, rebellions, and mishaps.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Here are some notable uses of the Insurrection Act, usually to quell rebellions or in cases where local or state authorities were unable or unwilling to maintain order or uphold the Constitution.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Overnight, a show of defiance inside Venezuela from Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondón, who posted a video to social media making his allegiances clear.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
-
During her own allocution moments later, Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, likewise struck a note of defiance and introduced herself as the First Lady of Venezuela, her face appearing bruised and bandaged.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2026
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
-
In the end, her disobedience—forged in tandem with and in opposition to her tribe—felt unmoored without a fellow-Mitford’s pigtail to pull.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
-
However, the dictates of a person's conscience, religion, or personal philosophy cannot justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
22 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The orphan’s predicament is as much a matter of willfulness as of survival—inseparable, as in the works of Charles Dickens, from a dream of being somehow rescued by the idea of an adult world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 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
-
The message and disrespect were unmistakable.—
Wanda James,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Globes’ decision to not air the presentation of the award for best original score came across as a sign of disrespect for film music.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insubordination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insubordination. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
