Synonyms of rebelliousness

rebelliousness

noun

as in rebellion

refusal to obey

her habitual rebelliousness eventually landed her in the principal's office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebellion
• defiance
• willfulness
• disobedience
• disrespect
• contrariness
• waywardness
• insubordination
• unruliness
• recalcitrance
• contumacy
• rudeness
• intractability
• refractoriness
• stubbornness
• frowardness
• obstreperousness
• balkiness
• noncooperation
• civil disobedience
• insolence
• perversity
• obstinacy
• tenacity
• inconsiderateness
• peevishness
• impudence
• self-will
• inconsideration
• pigheadedness
• impoliteness
• obduracy
• doggedness
• mischievousness
• pertinacity
• naughtiness
• tenaciousness
• ungraciousness
• impertinence
• hardheadedness
• discourteousness
• knavery
• obdurateness
• mulishness
• obstinateness
• pertinaciousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subordination
• obedience
• compliance
• submission
• tractability
• amiability
• agreeability
• submissiveness
• subservience
• amenability
• slavishness
• subserviency
• tractableness
• subordinateness
• deference
• docility
• trainability
• dutifulness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rebelliousness

Marji’s rebelliousness, both admirable and terrifying for those who love her, is her salient characteristic. — Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026

The pseudo-goth hair and costume choices speak to an inner rebelliousness that isn’t so much unleashed as forced loose by a system that values the appearance of a mythical impartiality over her humanity, leaving her with little recourse but to step outside the confines of the law. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026

The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2026

This transit stokes your sense of independence and even rebelliousness, inspiring you to strike out against convention and innovate more than ever. — Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026

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 rebelliousness can be witnessed in everything from its ’70s-in-California style to the very naming conventions Mother chooses for its viral products — adored by A-listers like Gigi Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, Millie Bobby Brown, and more. — Kristina Rutkowski, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025

This element of female rebelliousness is very important to me. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019