rebellious
Americanadjective
-
defying or resisting some established authority, government, or tradition; insubordinate; inclined to rebel.
- Synonyms:
- contumacious, disobedient, refractory, rebel, seditious, mutinous, insurgent, defiant
-
pertaining to or characteristic of rebels or rebellion.
-
(of things) resisting treatment; refractory.
adjective
-
showing a tendency towards rebellion
-
(of a problem, etc) difficult to overcome; refractory
Usage
What does rebellious mean? Rebellious is an adjective that describes someone who resists or defies rules.Someone who acts in such a way can be called a rebel. However, the word rebel can also be used to refer to a revolutionary trying to overthrow a government. Such actions can be described as rebellious, but rebellious is much more commonly used to describe people or actions that break the rules, resist authority, or otherwise challenge the status quo. It’s especially applied to teenagers who act this way.The noun rebelliousness refers to such behavior. The noun rebellion can refer to this, but it’s also used to refer to an attempt to overthrow a government (rebelliousness isn’t typically used this way.)Example: Danielle was labeled rebellious for refusing to wear her uniform to school.
Other Word Forms
- half-rebellious adjective
- half-rebelliously adverb
- half-rebelliousness noun
- nonrebellious adjective
- nonrebelliously adverb
- nonrebelliousness noun
- quasi-rebellious adjective
- quasi-rebelliously adverb
- rebelliously adverb
- rebelliousness noun
- semirebellious adjective
- semirebelliously adverb
- semirebelliousness noun
- unrebellious adjective
- unrebelliously adverb
- unrebelliousness noun
Etymology
Origin of rebellious
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin rebelliōsus, from Latin rebelli(ō) “war renewal, revolt” ( rebellion ) + -ōsus -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The opening 15 minutes of Arirang have the rebellious, rap-heavy energy of the band's 2014 album, Dark & Wild.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
For Sundance’s final gathering in Park City, it’s fitting that there should be a new movie from a filmmaker that embodies the rebellious, rule-breaking spirit of the festival as few have.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026
To land the role of a rebellious cadet in “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy,” 26-year-old Sandro Rosta had to do a chemistry read over Zoom with Holly Hunter.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2026
But a gay student, a trans student, even a mildly rebellious or slightly weird kid—anyone disinclined to be compliant—might have been unhappy there.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026
In his stained white smock, he was half rebellious and wholly uncertain.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
