Synonyms

disobey

American

[dis-uh-bey] / ˌdɪs əˈbeɪ /

verb (used with or without object)

to neglect or refuse to obey.

Synonyms:

oppose, ignore, resist, disregard, defy

disobey British

/ ˌdɪsəˈbeɪ /

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

disobeyer noun

Etymology

Origin of disobey

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

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.

“Don’t lie. Don’t disobey. Don’t disrespect your mother,” he has ranted.

From Salon

Navy captain, for participating in a video calling on troops to disobey illegal orders.

From The Wall Street Journal

The look on his face and the tone of his voice were such that no one dared disobey.

From Literature

In the meantime, here’s one last, basic fact that appears to be misunderstood: The First Amendment doesn’t give journalists a right to disobey laws.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Irancell disobeyed the orders of the decision-making institutions in implementing the announced policies regarding the restriction of internet access in crisis situations," the agency said.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023