disobey

[dis-uh-bey]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to neglect or refuse to obey.

   Synonyms: oppose, ignore, resist, disregard, defy

disobey

/ ˌdɪsəˈbeɪ /

verb

1. to neglect or refuse to obey (someone, an order, etc)

Other Word Forms

• disobeyer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disobey¹

1350–1400; Middle English disobeien < Old French desobeir, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + obeir to obey

Example Sentences

Defend Our Juries who organised the protest said: "Whilst the Labour party congregate at their annual conference, protestors are outside disobeying the unjust ban on Palestine Action."

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"Earlier today, Colombian president @petrogustavo stood on a NYC street and urged US soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence," the State Department said in a post on X.

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Last month, in a 62-page ruling, he found the city had “willfully disobeyed” that order — and had improperly reported its encampment reductions.

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The judge said the city “flouted” its responsibility to provide the court with “accurate and comprehensive data” and disobeyed a court order dealing with its strategy for reducing homeless encampments.

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In a recent column in the left of centre newspaper Haaretz, the retired general Amiram Levin said it was time for soldiers – starting with senior commanders - to think about disobeying orders.

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Related Words

• contravene 
• defy 
• evade 
• flout 
• ignore 
• infringe 
• misbehave 
• overstep 
• transgress 
• violate