rebellious

American  

[ri-bel-yuhs] / rɪˈbɛl yəs /

adjective

1. defying or resisting some established authority, government, or tradition; insubordinate; inclined to rebel.

   Synonyms:

   contumacious, disobedient, refractory, rebel, seditious, mutinous, insurgent, defiant

2. pertaining to or characteristic of rebels or rebellion.

3. (of things) resisting treatment; refractory.

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rebellious British  

/ rɪˈbɛljəs /

adjective

1. showing a tendency towards rebellion

2. (of a problem, etc) difficult to overcome; refractory

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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” ( see rebellion) + -ōsus -ous

Explanation

A rebellious person likes to challenge authority and break the rules every now and then. A really rebellious group tries to overthrow the government. Being rebellious is part of the American character. If the colonies hadn't been rebellious enough to rebel against England, there would be no United States. Large groups of people can be rebellious, but so can individuals. A student who talks back to the teacher is being rebellious. An employee who ignores a dress code is being rebellious. Anywhere there's an authority, someone is probably acting rebellious toward it.

Example Sentences

Ms. Kuin, a classicist at the University of Virginia, presents many of them in “Diogenes: The Rebellious Life and Revolutionary Philosophy of the Original Cynic.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

Rebellious colonists skewered British taxation policies, military blunders and parliamentary pomposities through plays, songs and cartoons that rallied others to the cause of independence and made mass mobilization fun.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025

The "Toxic" singer said her artwork was an "expression" of how she's "feeling at the moment": "Rebellious… colorful…bright…bold …spontaneous…magical."

From Fox News • Jul. 27, 2021

Rebellious teenagers and hip-hop heads weren’t the only people paying attention.

From Slate • Feb. 14, 2020

Rebellious seniors, not that worried about missing breakfast.

From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld

Related Words

• alienated
• disaffected
• fractious
• recalcitrant
• restless
• turbulent
• unruly
• warring