adjective
disobedient
dis-uh-BEE-dee-uhnt/ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiənt/
Refusing or failing to obey rules or authority.
The disobedient dog reaches for the food despite the owner's command.
Etymology
Dis- reverses the obedient base, formed from a Latin verb meaning “listen to” and hence “obey.” Calling someone disobedient describes a failure to heed authority through action, rather than merely a failure to listen.
In context
Jonah was running from the presence of the Lord he was forsaking his calling as a prophet disobedient and moving in the opposite direction
More examples
- A disobedient pupil repeatedly broke the rule.
- They considered the refusal disobedient.
- She was punished for disobedient behavior.
Forms
disobedient
disobey verb — fail or refuse to follow an instruction
Similar words
- defiant
- Defiant openly challenges authority; disobedient may simply fail to follow instructions.
- unruly
- Unruly is hard to control; disobedient specifically fails to obey.