as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the disobedient child refused to eat his vegetables
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Recent Examples of disobedient
Kennedy Tolson is the sly queen of side-eye as the disobedient new housemaid Nancy.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
These first two episodes also give us the first appearance of Uma Thurman’s character, Charley, who seems to be recruiting serial killers and taking out disobedient ones in the Tri-State area.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 11 July 2025
An immaterial figure who lives where there is no light, his role is to kidnap children who are too noisy and disobedient to their parents' wishes.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 27 June 2025
In 2003, as the House considered an overhaul to Medicare, the party’s leadership issued threats against disobedient Republicans who saw the bill as a giveaway to pharmaceutical and insurance companies.
—James D’angelo, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019
See All Example Sentences for disobedient
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
These first two episodes also give us the first appearance of Uma Thurman’s character, Charley, who seems to be recruiting serial killers and taking out disobedient ones in the Tri-State area.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 11 July 2025
An immaterial figure who lives where there is no light, his role is to kidnap children who are too noisy and disobedient to their parents' wishes.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 27 June 2025
In 2003, as the House considered an overhaul to Medicare, the party’s leadership issued threats against disobedient Republicans who saw the bill as a giveaway to pharmaceutical and insurance companies.
—James D’angelo, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019
See All Example Sentences for disobedient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disobedient
Adjective
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Kravitz's sign is adventurous, blunt and always chasing a new adventure, while Styles' sign is rebellious, independent and slightly unpredictable.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
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This tale of a rebellious unemployed mouse has already won a Goya.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Authorities say Saturday’s attack was perpetrated by the Central General Staff, EMC, a rebel group under the command of infamous ex-FARC commander Ivan Mordisco.—
Alfie Pannell,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
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Colombia’s defense minister on Sunday said that kidnappings and lockdowns enforced by rebel groups on communities had decreased in Cauca over the past year because of the government's actions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But an increasingly defiant Daisy has another idea.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
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While Google has struck a defiant tone, internal backlash appears to be mounting, with several employees criticizing the deal publicly.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disobedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disobedient. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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