1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective unruly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unruly are headstrong, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, and willful. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

When would headstrong be a good substitute for unruly?

While the synonyms headstrong and unruly are close in meaning, headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

Where would intractable be a reasonable alternative to unruly?

The meanings of intractable and unruly largely overlap; however, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

When can recalcitrant be used instead of unruly?

While in some cases nearly identical to unruly, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

In what contexts can refractory take the place of unruly?

The words refractory and unruly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

When is it sensible to use ungovernable instead of unruly?

The words ungovernable and unruly can be used in similar contexts, but ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.

ungovernable rage

When is willful a more appropriate choice than unruly?

In some situations, the words willful and unruly are roughly equivalent. However, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

a willful disregard for the rights of others

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 unruly The charges stem from an incident on July 7 when Hodgson was off-duty and alleged to have been unruly at a popular boardwalk destination filled with restaurants and shops. Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2025 Bitcoin, once the unruly child of finance, is showing signs of maturity as its wild swings fade, forcing speculative traders to hunt for a new playground. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025 In the teaser, some of the department's patients include a newborn baby and an unruly person thrashing around in an ambulance. Julia Moore, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025 Root for the Ravens, watch a satire of a popular cops and lawyers TV show, go to a classic rock concert, learn about Baltimore’s unruly past or see the return of the first summer blockbuster that urged you not to go into the water. John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unruly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unruly
Adjective
  • Written by Kaitlin Reilly and Dorian Keyes, the film follows a rebellious bad boy and a type-A overachiever who join forces to win the student body presidency – and maybe each other’s hearts along the way.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
  • In business, as in life, there are times when conformity is an asset, but in others, embracing your individuality, inhabiting your rebellious spirit and being a true trailblazer are what lead to success.
    Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Of all the bad-hair-day culprits, matted hair can be the most stubborn and frustrating.
    Grace McCarty, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Spills can be blotted (never rubbed) with a dry cloth since the fabric is non-absorptive, and for more stubborn stains, dry cleaning is recommended.
    Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The rebel run is the biggest of them all.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Humanitarian organizations estimate over 13 million people have been displaced by the fighting between the government’s military forces and the rebel RSF fighters, with famine and disease a by-product of the struggle for power.
    Rory Fleming, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Young adults living at home Rising inflation, increasing student debt and unmanageable housing and rent prices are some indicators of why young people have chosen to live with their parents.
    Sara Chernikoff, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The popularity Nirvana gained at stupefying speed and unmanageable proportions in 1991 is impossible to replicate in the culture and music industry of 2025.
    Chris R. Morgan, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The Office of the Inspector General launched a criminal investigation and determined the shots had been fired from where two FBI agents and an Oregon State Police officer had been standing.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Abrego was brought back in June to face criminal charges of transporting migrants living in the United States illegally.
    Ted Hesson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The trio – who had never appeared together in public before – formed the defiant face of an emerging bloc of illiberal leaders determined to push back against Western rules and tilt the global balance of power in their favor.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
  • While Massie remains defiant, the episode highlights how Trump’s threats alone can destabilize even entrenched incumbents.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Beyond Venezuelan incompetence, American pressure and fears of uncontrollable escalation may be driving Chinese caution.
    Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Unlike the original Izo, Didi is described as an unpredictable and uncontrollable gang leader who has isolated others that are part of the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The film was One Battle After Another, Anderson’s high-octane adaptation of Vineland, Thomas Pynchon’s anarchic 1990 novel about a crew of former leftist revolutionaries — the French 75 — living in a slightly more dystopian version of present-day America.
    Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Its conceit is a neat one for a film — and totally believable for a family history from anarchic Eastern Europe after the Second World War.
    Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unruly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unruly. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unruly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!