disobey

verb

dis·​obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā 

-ō-

disobeyed; disobeying; disobeys

intransitive verb

: to be disobedient

transitive verb

: to fail to obey

disobeyer noun

Synonyms

• defy
• mock
• rebel (against)

Examples of disobey in a Sentence

If you disobey, you will be severely punished.

The soldier disobeyed the general's orders.

He was afraid to disobey his father.

The driver had disobeyed the law.

Recent Examples on the Web

There is some chance that the Court, which knows that its popularity and public trust are at historic lows, will fear that this President might contemplate disobeying a court’s order to issue citizenship documents, and choose not to test him. —Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025

Stella explains that Damon lied about disobeying orders and that there have been trust issues in the past. —Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 9 Oct. 2024

There is no right to openly violate the law and disobey law enforcement. —CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025

Todd Orlowski, 53, of Danbury was taken into custody on an arrest warrant on Friday on charges of reckless driving, disobeying signal of an officer and engaging police in pursuit, according to Connecticut State Police. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French desobeir, from des- dis- + obeir to obey

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for disobey

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

disobey

verb

dis·​obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā 

: to refuse, neglect, or fail to obey