1
as in submission
a bending to the authority or control of another
the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits
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2
as in submissiveness
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others
the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command
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3
as in adherence
the following of a custom, rule, or law
expectations of strict obedience to the guidelines were soon dashed
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of obedience
According to the non-fiction author and blogger Leanna Mae, who herself is Apostolic Pentecostal, refusing to cut hair is an act of obedience to the scriptures.
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Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
Ferrara bought a metric ton of tapeworm props, hired a scene-stealing Meg Tilly and showed us that, even in docile peacetime, demands of obedience and conformity can be seamlessly co-opted by evil forces, leaving us with zero options of how to live outside their control.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
Ensure commands are paired with rewards or positive experiences to encourage obedience.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Democrats specifically held out hope that Utah's religious culture of obedience would weigh on voters' reaction to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot and Trump's felony convictions, driving down Republican support.
—Erin Alberty, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obedience 
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
Ferrara bought a metric ton of tapeworm props, hired a scene-stealing Meg Tilly and showed us that, even in docile peacetime, demands of obedience and conformity can be seamlessly co-opted by evil forces, leaving us with zero options of how to live outside their control.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
Ensure commands are paired with rewards or positive experiences to encourage obedience.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Democrats specifically held out hope that Utah's religious culture of obedience would weigh on voters' reaction to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot and Trump's felony convictions, driving down Republican support.
—Erin Alberty, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obedience
Noun
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This special jury reviewed 35 of the official submissions for the Academy Awards International Feature Film category that were selected to screen at this year’s festival.Katcy Stephan, Variety, 12 Jan. 2025
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Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings.Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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All Premier League clubs are assessed for their adherence to the competition’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) each year.Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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Finding Success with Human Values in the Digital Age Brandon’s philosophy and strict adherence to its principles demonstrate that a company can thrive off of timeless human values in an era of technology.William Mullane, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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For businesses, this means investing in transparency and compliance—challenges that could ultimately yield competitive advantages.Aaron Mendes, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
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Twitter was fined $350,000 for failing to show good faith and timely compliance, in a case the Supreme Court declined to review.Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Such acquiescence was the best possible public response from the Kremlin’s point of view.Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 27 Sep. 2022
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The intrusion and lack of privacy are not being met with acquiescence; employees are outraged and calling for boundaries around what ‘Big Brother’ can use against them.Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Insisting on a different history—or a challenging monument—did not come easily to a Jewish population that was, for centuries, intent on conformity.Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
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As an instrument of power and control in a single-party system, the North Korean military places supreme emphasis on doctrine, hierarchy, and conformity.Frank Lavin, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The report includes the observation that civil discourse is critical to colleges and universities.Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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The desert's arid climate and high altitude ensure clear skies for over 300 nights a year, with minimal light pollution, allowing the best possible conditions for the observation of the cosmos from the ground.Jess Thomson, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The biggest risk is that the policyholder premiums may be tied up until the surrender period of the policy.Tanmay Gupta, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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Pereyra negotiated his surrender through his lawyer, prosecutors confirmed to TMZ.Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Trump responded positively to this display of deference, but no meeting occurred.Bilahari Kausikan, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
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As if in deference to the gravitas of her themes, Carlson is rarely acclaimed for her sense of humor.Jeremy Lybarger, ARTnews.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near obedience
Cite this Entry
“Obedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obedience. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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