as in followed
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
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Recent Examples of obeyed
Paradoxes and Doubt The late 1800s were a time of paradoxes and doubt, the result of mathematicians beginning to search for cohesive ideas about what rules the mathematical universe obeyed.
—
Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
The direction – which was visibly obeyed – is nothing new for repeat attendees of Welch’s shows, who have endured the agony of a phone-free hand for two minutes.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
And all the adults obeyed the eldest daughter.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Four of the five occupants obeyed the officers’ commands and got out of the car, the release states.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2026
The Nuggets obeyed his orders for a handful of possessions.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Every day, Dan obeyed his own addictions, killing pain with packs of cigarettes and Coors banquet beers.
—Andrew Callahan, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Hegseth gave an unlawful order, and, unfortunately, people in the military obeyed it.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2025
When the bell rang in Beaver Falls, where elementary, middle and high schools all occupy the main drag, KDKA Investigates found a diligent crossing guard at one intersection with four-way stops and drivers who mostly obeyed the school zone speed limit displayed with flashing lights.
—Erika Stanish, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
The direction – which was visibly obeyed – is nothing new for repeat attendees of Welch’s shows, who have endured the agony of a phone-free hand for two minutes.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
And all the adults obeyed the eldest daughter.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Four of the five occupants obeyed the officers’ commands and got out of the car, the release states.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2026
The Nuggets obeyed his orders for a handful of possessions.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Every day, Dan obeyed his own addictions, killing pain with packs of cigarettes and Coors banquet beers.
—Andrew Callahan, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Hegseth gave an unlawful order, and, unfortunately, people in the military obeyed it.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2025
When the bell rang in Beaver Falls, where elementary, middle and high schools all occupy the main drag, KDKA Investigates found a diligent crossing guard at one intersection with four-way stops and drivers who mostly obeyed the school zone speed limit displayed with flashing lights.
—Erika Stanish, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obeyed
Verb
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Being separated from her parents as a baby was an unhealed sorrow for Heidi, and her anguish followed her into the messy intimacy of family life.—
Nicholas Dawidoff,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
Albies and Olson followed with consecutive two-run singles.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
Verb
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In certain mammals like horses, antelopes, and cows, researchers observed dental patterns similar to those found in adult Maiasaura.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
9 May 2026
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Lava bursts were also observed overnight from a monitoring post near the volcano.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obeyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obeyed. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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