disobedient

adjective

dis·​obe·​di·​ent ˌdis-ə-ˈbē-dē-ənt How to pronounce disobedient (audio)
-ō-ˈbē-
: refusing or neglecting to obey
disobediently adverb

Examples of disobedient in a Sentence

The disobedient soldier was given cleanup duty. The dog was being disobedient.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When Ballard was asked at the end of the season why Richardson needed to be demoted for the stakes of his job to finally sink in, the GM compared his QB’s behavior to that of a disobedient child. James Boyd, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 Sadly, they’re sometimes used because a guardian thinks the dog is being willfully disobedient, rather than examining the underlying issue that’s creating the problem behavior (for example, lack of training or not meeting the dog’s exercise or emotional needs). Dawn Kovell, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025 At any point, a willingness to be both selfish and disobedient would have saved her. Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 25 Sep. 2024 In this view, disobedient journalists, scientific experts, officials, and judges are the enemy. Pippa Norris, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2021 See All Example Sentences for disobedient

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disobedient was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Disobedient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disobedient. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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