Synonyms of obey

obey

verb

ō-ˈbā 

as in to follow

to act according to the commands of

she taught her dog to obey her when she said "Sit!"

most people obey the law and wear their seat belts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• follow
• observe
• conform (to)
• adhere (to)
• comply (with)
• abide by
• keep to
• mind
• fall in with
• submit (to)
• goose-step (to)
• yield (to)
• surrender (to)
• hear
• defer (to)
• agree (to)
• heed
• watch
• accede (to)
• regard
• take
• listen (to)
• assent (to)
• notice
• attend
• acquiesce (to)
• note
• mark

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disobey
• defy
• refuse
• dare
• challenge
• lead
• rebel (against)
• ignore
• renounce
• direct
• repudiate
• disregard
• violate
• dismiss
• pass over
• overlook
• disoblige
• break
• brush (off)
• transgress
• resist
• wink (at)
• infringe
• oppose
• breach
• flout
• fight
• withstand
• scorn
• mock
• tune out
• revolt (against)
• deride
• scoff (at)
• combat
• shrug off
• contest
• dispute
• overpass
• buck
• pooh-pooh
• mutiny (against)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of obey

That is, service members subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice have a duty to not obey unlawful orders. —Joshua Kastenberg, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025

There has to be among the people an ability to obey the law and to know right from wrong. —NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025

Classical objects obey this inequality, while quantum objects can violate it because their properties at different times are unusually strongly connected. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 Dec. 2025

Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings. —Frederick Dreier, Outside, 6 Dec. 2025