undisciplined
Britishadjective
Explanation
Undisciplined means uncontrolled or disorderly. An undisciplined bunch of dogs is nearly impossible to walk down the sidewalk together: they all want to run in different directions, chase squirrels, and bark wildly. When you take the word disciplined, "showing control or order," and add un-, or "not," to it, you get undisciplined. This is a great way to describe an out-of-control classroom, an athlete whose explosive anger gets her kicked off the field, or someone who can't manage his own money well, spending an entire paycheck all in one place.
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.
Undisciplined candidates make for great stories and colorful quotes.
From MSNBC • Jul. 22, 2015
Undisciplined teams commit penalties, make mistakes and miss assignments — not to mention the playoffs.
From Chicago Tribune • Dec. 27, 2014
Undisciplined batters swinging at first pitches for the fences,
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2014
Undisciplined play has contributed to a disappointing start to the season for the Lions and penalties continued to prove costly.
From Reuters • Oct. 29, 2012
Undisciplined, with no real uniforms and few experienced officers, the army of about 15,000 militiamen Washington inherited was little more than a disorganized mob.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
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.
