disobey

verb

dis·​obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā 

-ō-

disobeyed; disobeying; disobeys

intransitive verb

: to be disobedient

transitive verb

: to fail to obey

disobeyer noun

Synonyms

• defy
• mock
• rebel (against)

Examples of disobey in a Sentence

If you disobey, you will be severely punished.

The soldier disobeyed the general's orders.

He was afraid to disobey his father.

The driver had disobeyed the law.

Recent Examples on the Web

Philippine police have filed criminal complaints against Duterte and her security staff for allegedly assaulting authorities and disobeying orders in an altercation in Congress over the brief detention of her chief of staff, who was accused of hampering the congressional inquiry. —Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024

Also not computing: Where the hell does Ben get off disobeying Chief Altman’s orders? —Laura Bradley, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024

Hutchison is nominally a private company in Hong Kong, but in the Communist Party's system, no entity in the People's Republic can ignore or disobey an order from the ruling organization. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025

Rosenblatt said in a statement Monday that King would plead guilty to five of those charges, including desertion, three counts of disobeying an officer, and assault on a noncommissioned officer. —Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French desobeir, from des- dis- + obeir to obey

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

disobey

verb

dis·​obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā 

: to refuse, neglect, or fail to obey