OBEDIENT Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'obedient' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of obedient are amenable , docile , and tractable . While all these words mean "submissive to the will of another," obedient implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority. // obedient to the government

Q: When is 'amenable' a more appropriate choice than 'obedient'?

The words amenable and obedient can be used in similar contexts, but amenable suggests a willingness to yield or cooperate because of a desire to be agreeable or because of a natural open-mindedness. // amenable to new ideas

Q: When is it sensible to use 'docile' instead of 'obedient'?

Although the words docile and obedient have much in common, docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance. // a docile child

Q: Where would 'tractable' be a reasonable alternative to 'obedient'?

In some situations, the words tractable and obedient are roughly equivalent. However, tractable suggests having a character that permits easy handling or managing. // tractable animals

obedient

adjective

ō-ˈbē-dē-ənt

Definition of obedient

as in docile

readily giving in to the command or authority of another that boy is so obedient that he does everything the first time he is asked

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word obedient different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of obedient are amenable, docile, and tractable. While all these words mean "submissive to the will of another," obedient implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority.

obedient to the government

When is amenable a more appropriate choice than obedient?

The words amenable and obedient can be used in similar contexts, but amenable suggests a willingness to yield or cooperate because of a desire to be agreeable or because of a natural open-mindedness.

amenable to new ideas

When is it sensible to use docile instead of obedient?

Although the words docile and obedient have much in common, docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance.

a docile child

Where would tractable be a reasonable alternative to obedient?

In some situations, the words tractable and obedient are roughly equivalent. However, tractable suggests having a character that permits easy handling or managing.

tractable animals

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 obedient The dogs Kostyukevich saw on Happy K9 Academy’s Instagram page seemed happy and obedient. — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 25 June 2026 Richards gave millions of dollars to the cult, Eternal Values, while living a double life as both a globe-trotting supermodel and obedient cult member, as reported in a recent story in The Hollywood Reporter. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026 The Flaws are the typical employees of a German government office – quiet, obedient and spectacularly bad at their jobs. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026 How might Infantino continue to profess neutrality while still clearly taking a side, pretending to listen to every voice while remaining obedient to only one? — Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for obedient

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obedient

Adjective

Where Raphael’s infant Christ is plump, acquiescent, docile, Cassatt’s children squirm, resist, and ignore authority.

— Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
Even with docile scoring conditions that Saturday, Royal Birkdale yielded plenty of statistical superlatives for the championship.

— Justin Ray, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of docile

Adjective

The submissive Colin finds new confidence and enjoys doing assorted things for Ray, but complications arise when Colin begins to want something more emotional.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 June 2026
This is a strategy born not of manly strength, but of submissive desperation.

— Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026

Definition of submissive

Adjective

That’s mainly because of financial interests and outdated regulations, experts told STAT, which has now left holes in the IRB system where science that is both legally compliant and ethically dubious can proceed.

— Angus Chen, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026
County and state officials have backed off immediate intervention after finding LAUSD technically compliant with a budget deadline.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of compliant

Adjective

Then DSPs and SSPs made screens biddable and addressable, and programmatic DOOH shifted buying from which markets to which audiences, verified how.

— Denys Kanel, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Advertisers can use biddable automation to buy ads in real-time against live programming, which is especially critical for live sports.

— Sara Fischer, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025

Definition of biddable

Adjective

Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve give superbly restrained performances as a married couple who have immigrated from Romania to a small seaside town in Norway with their four children.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
The Sydney penthouse, measuring in at just under 9,700 square feet, takes a restrained approach while still feeling sumptuous, thanks to interiors that pair custom pieces with luxe materials.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of restrained

Adjective

Is this suit more conformable than the costume from Revenge of the Sith?

— Ryan Parker, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2022
Parker details that after a few meetings and sample swapping with the agency, Macy’s picked up her collection and the pair have dedicated its mission to approach size inclusive fashion in a fun yet conformable way.

— Nandi Howard, Essence, 18 May 2021

Definition of conformable

Adjective

Anomaly detection, pattern recognition and risk stratification for pregnancy complications are all tractable applications when the underlying data quality is there, and the design keeps a clinician in the decision loop.

— Edin Deljkic, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
After decades of mathematicians spinning their wheels, the problem suddenly seemed tractable.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 19 May 2026

Definition of tractable

Adjective

With a 10-year limitations period, measured backwards from the bankruptcy petition date, all transfers to such trusts are amenable to being set aside if there are enough other facts to establish a fraudulent transfer.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Branagh’s Lopakhin is unusually amenable, said Arifa Akbar in The Guardian.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 30 July 2026

Definition of amenable

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obediences

obedient

obeisance

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“Obedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obedient. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of obedient

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