Synonyms of obedient

obedient

adjective

ō-ˈbē-dē-ənt 

as in docile

readily giving in to the command or authority of another

that boy is so obedient that he does everything the first time he is asked

Synonyms & Similar Words

• docile
• submissive
• compliant
• biddable
• restrained
• conformable
• tractable
• amenable
• meek
• gentle
• decorous
• controllable
• soft
• law-abiding
• dutiful
• repressed
• subordinate
• acquiescent
• obliging
• tame
• amiable
• servile
• subservient
• agreeable
• obsequious
• disciplined
• slavish
• governable
• orderly
• yielding
• surrendering
• duteous
• constrained
• fawning
• mannerly
• obeisant
• manageable
• trainable
• placable
• teachable
• mild
• inhibited
• kowtowing
• handleable
• disciplinable
• curbed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disobedient
• rebellious
• defiant
• contrary
• wilful
• willful
• recalcitrant
• refractory
• insubordinate
• unruly
• wayward
• obstreperous
• contumacious
• restive
• noncompliant
• intractable
• rebel
• stubborn
• mutinous
• ungovernable
• obstinate
• untoward
• balky
• headstrong
• insurgent
• unyielding
• obdurate
• wild
• hardheaded
• resistant
• peevish
• uncontrollable
• mulish
• defiant
• dogged
• unmanageable
• froward
• unamenable
• perverse
• mischievous
• naughty
• incompliant
• bad
• disorderly
• self-willed
• pigheaded
• balky
• undisciplined
• errant
• insolent
• impudent
• dissident
• nonconformist
• disrespectful
• rude
• misbehaving
• impolite
• ill-bred
• ill-mannered

Synonym Chooser

How is the word obedient different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of obedient are amenable, docile, and tractable. While all these words mean "submissive to the will of another," obedient implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority.

obedient to the government

When is amenable a more appropriate choice than obedient?

The words amenable and obedient can be used in similar contexts, but amenable suggests a willingness to yield or cooperate because of a desire to be agreeable or because of a natural open-mindedness.

amenable to new ideas

When is it sensible to use docile instead of obedient?

Although the words docile and obedient have much in common, docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance.

a docile child

Where would tractable be a reasonable alternative to obedient?

In some situations, the words tractable and obedient are roughly equivalent. However, tractable suggests having a character that permits easy handling or managing.

tractable animals

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of obedient

Investors and businesses have long entrusted financial regulators to follow their Congressional mandates to remain independent and not obedient to White House directives. —John Kostyack, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

Future research directions include scaling up and down GOAT’s design to accommodate other payloads and developing better algorithms to help take advantage of the special characteristics of morphing, obedient robots. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Feb. 2025

The charges were based on an argument that the entourage of managers and aides who helped Kelly meet girls — and keep them obedient and quiet — amounted to a criminal enterprise. —Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025

The obedient, scared little boy from el campo was gone. —Aquilino Gonell, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2025