rebellious

[ ri-bel-yuhs ]

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.

rebellious

/ rɪˈbɛljəs /

adjective

1. showing a tendency towards rebellion
2. (of a problem, etc) difficult to overcome; refractory

Derived Forms

• reˈbelliousness, noun
• reˈbelliously, adverb

Other Words From

• re·bellious·ly adverb
• re·bellious·ness noun
• half-re·bellious adjective
• half-re·bellious·ly adverb
• half-re·bellious·ness noun
• nonre·bellious adjective
• nonre·bellious·ly adverb
• nonre·bellious·ness noun
• quasi-re·bellious adjective
• quasi-re·bellious·ly adverb
• semi·re·bellious adjective
• semi·re·bellious·ly adverb
• semi·re·bellious·ness noun
• unre·bellious adjective
• unre·bellious·ly adverb
• unre·bellious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rebellious¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin rebelliōsus, from Latin rebelli(ō) “war renewal, revolt” ( rebellion ) + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

Fenner says he saw a 12-year-old boy isolated from his parents for weeks because he was being “rebellious.”

From The Daily Beast

But now everything was a good pretext to vent the rebellious mood.

From The Daily Beast

“In high school, I was considered the most rebellious girl,” Perl says.

From The Daily Beast

In the first chapter, rebellious Holly Sykes runs away from home and headlong into the melancholy perils of first love.

From The Daily Beast

So instead of having rebellious teens, I had my rebellious 20s.

From The Daily Beast

Man's enthusiasm in praise of a fellow mortal, is soon damped by the original sin of his nature—rebellious pride!

From Project Gutenberg

That thou shouldst make the kingdom to be divided, and out of Ephraim a rebellious kingdom to rule.

From Project Gutenberg

Having reduced Punch to a second agony of tears Harry departed upstairs with the news that Punch was still rebellious.

From Project Gutenberg

The rebellious brown hair was almost in the shade of my own dashing hat-brim.

From Project Gutenberg

As a natural consequence her repressed but still rebellious passions diffused their poison throughout her nature.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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