OBEY Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

obey

verb

ō-ˈbā

Definition of obey

as in to follow

to act according to the commands of she taught her dog to obey her when she said "Sit!" most people obey the law and wear their seat belts

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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 obey Nietzsche says somewhere that the illusion of willpower rests on our tendency to identify with the part of our soul that commands, not the part that obeys. — Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 Meanwhile, the administration’s threats linger, mostly in the form of withholding funding from museums and artists that do not obey its vision. — Isabel Ruehl, The Atlantic, 25 June 2026 Local authorities are reminding the public to obey warning signs and avoid entering the water where wildlife is known to be present, particularly in estuary and mangrove areas. — Claire Bower, ABC News, 29 June 2026 Tesla has said its Autopilot system enables vehicles to steer, accelerate and brake within their lanes, while Full Self-Driving lets vehicles obey traffic signals and change lanes. — Reuters, NBC news, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for obey

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obey

Verb

The reality is that leading men dictate roles and others follow as needed.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
The Kings trailed 76-75 following a jumper by Tyler Bilodeau with 52 seconds to go.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of follow

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obesity

obey

obeyed

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“Obey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obey. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of obey

verb

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