DISOBEY Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

disobey

verb

ˌdis-ə-ˈbā

Definition of disobey

as in to ignore

to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of students who disobey their teachers and use cell phones in class drivers who consistently disobey traffic laws

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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.

Recent Examples of disobey In 2024, the agency claimed that X security staff sometimes had to pointedly disobey Musk in order to remain in compliance. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026 Saulter was being investigated for allegedly falsifying time sheets, disobeying a direct order and failing to report part-time employment properly. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026 Authorities last August removed Dodik from the post of the president and temporarily banned him from politics for disobeying Schmidt's decisions. — ABC News, 11 May 2026 Santana-Mateo was booked on charges of breach of peace, engaging police in a pursuit, disobeying the direction of officer, reckless driving, failure to obey a stop sign, failure to drive right, failure to obey a traffic control signal and driving the wrong way on a one way. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for disobey

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disobey

Verb

Swift will either ignore the noise as usual, or smile at the absurdity as a secure, proud childless cat lady.

— Bryan West, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Not only were the rules misapplied, according to an expert referee with years of elite experience, but similar plays during this tournament have been ignored.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Definition of ignore

Verb

Judge Sullivan concluded in his June 25 decision to order Blanche to release more information or explain himself that Blanche had likely violated the transparency law.

— Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Guests were reportedly required to sign nondisclosure agreements before receiving any event details (although the NDAs were said not to have included any penalties for violating the terms).

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Definition of violate

Verb

Mexican Americans have long risen up to defend ourselves and defy our haters, but there’s usually an underlying strain of bitterness and anger that kneecaps us at the worst possible moments.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Any concerns that expanding the tournament to forty-eight teams would bring lopsided outcomes evaporated as underdog nations defied betting odds again and again.

— Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 6 July 2026

Definition of defy

Verb

Under owner Arte Moreno, the Angels have resisted rebuilding, preferring to add lower-tier free agents and rush college players to the major leagues in an effort to field a competitive roster.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Are the foundations laid in 1776 and 1789 still strong enough and sound enough to resist the tremors of our times?

— Susan Page, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Definition of resist

Verb

The Belgian team’s official X account celebrated the team’s win with a pair of mocking posts.

— Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
More than 200 people were arrested in protest marches and anti-terror raids, including academics, lawyers, and journalists; a comedian who mocked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was held at the airport.

— Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of mock

Browse Nearby Words

disobedient

disobey

disobeyed

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“Disobey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disobey. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of disobey

verb

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