as in rebellion
refusal to obey
her habitual rebelliousness eventually landed her in the principal's office
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Recent Examples of rebelliousness
The pseudo-goth hair and costume choices speak to an inner rebelliousness that isn’t so much unleashed as forced loose by a system that values the appearance of a mythical impartiality over her humanity, leaving her with little recourse but to step outside the confines of the law.
—
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2026
This transit stokes your sense of independence and even rebelliousness, inspiring you to strike out against convention and innovate more than ever.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
At times, Carol’s admirable rebelliousness seems to come at the cost of self-flagellating destruction, a badge of honor to be miserable.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
The rebelliousness can be witnessed in everything from its ’70s-in-California style to the very naming conventions Mother chooses for its viral products — adored by A-listers like Gigi Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, Millie Bobby Brown, and more.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025
This element of female rebelliousness is very important to me.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2026
This transit stokes your sense of independence and even rebelliousness, inspiring you to strike out against convention and innovate more than ever.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
At times, Carol’s admirable rebelliousness seems to come at the cost of self-flagellating destruction, a badge of honor to be miserable.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
The rebelliousness can be witnessed in everything from its ’70s-in-California style to the very naming conventions Mother chooses for its viral products — adored by A-listers like Gigi Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, Millie Bobby Brown, and more.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025
This element of female rebelliousness is very important to me.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebelliousness
Noun
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Shop the Marc Jacobs Beauty Collection Now Naturally, Jacobs also infused an undercurrent of rebellion.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
28 May 2026
-
Investor rebellion The announcement of Manifold’s departure from BP came as a surprise to many analysts and investors earlier in the week, with the company currently in the midst of a fundamental strategic reset.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
Noun
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From Stonewall’s 1969 uprising to today’s golf tournaments, human rights summits and bar crawls, Pride events in Los Angeles, New York and global cities mix festival energy with defiance.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
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Tensions escalated when Tigray held regional elections in defiance of thata federal delay, leading to a political standoff that erupted into a civil war in November 2020.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rebelliousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebelliousness. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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