unruly
adjective
un·ruly
ˌən-ˈrü-lē 
unrulier; unruliest
: not readily ruled, disciplined, or managed
an unruly crowd
a mane of unruly hair
unruliness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of unruly in a Sentence
unruly pupils were given detention as a matter of course
a camp that was known as a place where unruly youths were given their last chance to shape up
Recent Examples on the Web
But the show, which will mount its 54th edition this July, has its roots in the unruly youth culture of the 1960s and 70s.
—
Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
With his head in his hands, fingers scraping through the thick, unruly brown locks, and breath shuddering from the tight line of his lips.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
In addition, the unruly owl experienced exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides, DDE, a compound of chemicals that are used to kill rodents within New York City, the necropsy said.
—USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
More than 2,000 unruly passenger reports were made in both 2022 and 2023, the data shows.
—Melissa Alonso, CNN, 21 Feb. 2024
The ordinance was supported by several tenant advocacy groups and public officials, who argued that short-term rentals were displacing long-term residents and replacing them with unruly tourists.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
After getting expelled at 16, he was transferred with a group of other unruly boys to a large Catholic girls school that had just decided to accept boys.
—Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
The holy month also threatens to heighten divisions within Israel's unruly cabinet, with ministers already split over how to conduct the Gaza war.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 10 Mar. 2024
Plenty of fans were ejected from the game for unruly behavior.
—Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024
Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
With his head in his hands, fingers scraping through the thick, unruly brown locks, and breath shuddering from the tight line of his lips.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
In addition, the unruly owl experienced exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides, DDE, a compound of chemicals that are used to kill rodents within New York City, the necropsy said.
—USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
More than 2,000 unruly passenger reports were made in both 2022 and 2023, the data shows.
—Melissa Alonso, CNN, 21 Feb. 2024
The ordinance was supported by several tenant advocacy groups and public officials, who argued that short-term rentals were displacing long-term residents and replacing them with unruly tourists.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
After getting expelled at 16, he was transferred with a group of other unruly boys to a large Catholic girls school that had just decided to accept boys.
—Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
The holy month also threatens to heighten divisions within Israel's unruly cabinet, with ministers already split over how to conduct the Gaza war.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 10 Mar. 2024
Plenty of fans were ejected from the game for unruly behavior.
—Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unruly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unruly
Cite this Entry
“Unruly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unruly. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unruly
adjective
un·ruly
ˌən-ˈrü-lē
ˈən-
unrulier; unruliest
: not yielding easily to rule or restriction : uncontrollable
an unruly temper
an unruly horse
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