1
as in submission
a bending to the authority or control of another
the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in submissiveness
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others
the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adherence
the following of a custom, rule, or law
expectations of strict obedience to the guidelines were soon dashed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obedience
Owners of high-energy dogs may choose to supplement walks with obedience, or agility training.
—
Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Jumping: Held on the final day of competition, the purpose of the show jumping portion of the three-day event is to demonstrate the horse's energy and obedience after the cross-country test.
—Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
What is more, the actors are in complete obedience to the last line of the play.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
Even so, their training focuses heavily on discipline and obedience.
—Samuel C. Mahaney, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Jumping: Held on the final day of competition, the purpose of the show jumping portion of the three-day event is to demonstrate the horse's energy and obedience after the cross-country test.
—Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
What is more, the actors are in complete obedience to the last line of the play.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
Even so, their training focuses heavily on discipline and obedience.
—Samuel C. Mahaney, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obedience
Noun
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But if your company is handling hundreds of submissions weekly, with underwriters specializing in various areas, the need for such a tool becomes nearly unavoidable.—
Marcin Nowak,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
-
Customers can bet on each fight to end by knockout or submission.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 May 2025
Noun
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Elizabeth had maintained a decade of careful adherence to her HIV treatment, but the couple still struggled with consistent condom use.—
Kathryn Rhine,
The Conversation,
19 May 2025
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Resistance training adherence has always been reliant on access to the right equipment.—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
18 May 2025
Noun
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The village gave the stores a few weeks to remove the product from their shelves, and the village has not had an issue with compliance in the past year, Wold said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
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Even in the early stages, schema drift, data quality issues and compliance gaps can erode confidence in your data.—
Sonam Kanungo,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
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If anything, acquiescence would create a further basis to claim that the university is not compliant, which risks even more encroachments on academic freedom.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2025
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Details of such bills are typically negotiated between the two parties, particularly because votes in the Senate require 60 votes to pass, effectively requiring acquiescence of the minority party.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Design For Identity Integration, Not Assimilation Too often, organizations reward conformity under the guise of culture fit.—
Mary Hemphill, PhD,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Now the Trump administration is implementing an authoritarian plan to squash dissent, force conformity, and bring universities to their knees — in the name of protecting American Jews.—
Sandy Tolan,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Even in the best of times, long-term observations can be very fragile.—
Eric Morgan,
Wired News,
10 May 2025
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His observations are what sets him apart from everybody else.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
10 May 2025
Noun
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His father, Billy Sr., was an intrepid cinematographer who filmed the surrender of the German fleet at Scapa Flow in Scotland in 1919, then worked on documentaries.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
21 May 2025
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Our aim is to bring to life a chapter of Indian military history that deserves far more recognition — not just for the spectacle, but for the spirit of our soldiers who would rather die than surrender.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Georgetown Law School Professor David Super also questioned the amount of deference that Haines gave the administration, including on the questions of whether Tren de Aragua is invading the U.S. and whether the Venezuelan government is responsible.—
Joe Walsh
May 15,
CBS News,
15 May 2025
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Atlantis Paradise Island, where Jaisingh was staying, declined to offer further comment in deference to his family.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obedience. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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