UNRULY Synonyms: 159 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

unruly

adjective

ˌən-ˈrü-lē

Definition of unruly

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control unruly pupils were given detention as a matter of course

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stubborn

given to resisting control or discipline by others a camp that was known as a place where unruly youths were given their last chance to shape up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in criminal

not restrained by or under the control of legal authority unruly mobs roamed the streets of the capital after the government leaders had fled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Two styling products to finish the look John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum is designed for stubborn frizz and unruly hair, helping create a smoother finish and manage humidity. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026 That dustup is typically followed by a defense in Puck’s media newsletter, the reflexively anti-rank-and-file outlet where some media bosses and spokespeople go to air grievances about their unruly staff. — semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026 Without the charismatic clergyman, what kind of unruly Black-underclass anger would take the stage? — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026 The poets don’t need the movies as much as the movies need characters who still have something unruly to lay on the line. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unruly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unruly

Adjective

The selection also features Dutch director Sabine Lubbe Bakker’s Premier Souffle, exploring whether a rebellious outsider can find her place in the world after years of isolation from her community.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
Five years earlier my brother had gotten married, leaving me home alone without the buffers of his distracted affection, his big brotherly insouciance, his rebellious indifference to the emotional chasm widening between our parents.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of rebellious

Adjective

An honor that seems to bring things full circle for that stubborn little girl who dreamed of performing on stages around the world from her farm.

— Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
How To Remove Leaf Stains With Chlorine Bleach Bleach is very effective at removing stubborn leaf stains, along with mildew and moss.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of stubborn

Adjective

The police spokesperson said Perez was taken into custody without incident and charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
The leader of one of Haiti’s most powerful criminal organizations said the Salvadorans were killed in territory controlled by Chen Mechan, an allied gang.

— Widlore Mérancourt, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of criminal

Adjective

Mahershala Ali leads the resistance against the malevolent powers that be as a rebel bandit.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026
Since early 2025, the March 23 Movement, a rebel group, has seized control of large parts of the park, fueling poaching, deforestation and trafficking.

— Elodie Toto, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of rebel

Adjective

Avalo’s report states that current dynamics are making the cotton growing business unmanageable.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026
Symptoms that persist beyond a few weeks or feel unmanageable, Patel-Dunn’s cue to seek professional help rather than tough it out alone.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of unmanageable

Adjective

But while our online worlds have since expanded, the real-world space for anarchic creativity has shrunk.

— Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
The poet, Pavese implies, is a creature of Chaos—that anarchic state in which good is mixed with bad and monsters mingle with men and gods.

— Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of anarchic

Adjective

Macklemore's defiant remarks drew mixed reactions online, with some social media users applauding his outspoken activism while others questioned his motives and accused him of being out of touch.

— Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Israeli and American leaders have been sharpening their threats before elections in both countries, while Iranian leaders have remained defiant.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of defiant

Adjective

For a time the sea stars did double duty controlling the urchins, but in recent years they have been struck down by an uncontrollable plague, worsened by the state’s warming waters, called, quite literally, sea star wasting disease.

— Joseph Ogilvy, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
While some stress factors are uncontrollable, workplace stress directly hurts productivity.

— Jon Lowe, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of uncontrollable

Browse Nearby Words

unruliness

unruly

unrushed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unruly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unruly. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unruly

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

candidate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes