disobey

[ dis-uh-bey ]

/ ˌdɪs əˈbeɪ /

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See synonyms for: disobey / disobeyed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with or without object)

to neglect or refuse to obey.

OTHER WORDS FOR disobey

defy, disregard, resist, ignore, oppose.

See synonyms for disobey on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of disobey

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

OTHER WORDS FROM disobey

dis·o·bey·er, noun

Words nearby disobey

Disneyfy, Disneyland, Disney, Walt, disobedience, disobedient, disobey, disoblige, disodium phosphate, disomic, disoperation, disopyramide

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use disobey in a sentence

It praises law and order while reserving the right to disobey the law and overturn the political order through violence.
Trumpism is American fascism|Michael Gerson|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
Service members who violate that ban can face court-martial for disobeying a lawful order or regulation, or for other offenses related to their extremist activity, such as making false statements to superiors.
The Boogaloo Bois Have Guns, Criminal Records and Military Training. Now They Want to Overthrow the Government.|by A.C. Thompson, ProPublica, and Lila Hassan and Karim Hajj, FRONTLINE|February 1, 2021|ProPublica
If the business or organization continues to willfully disobey the health orders like many in Carlsbad are, an officer is supposed to create a report that is sent to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for review and further action.
How Carlsbad Restaurants Became Ground Zero for Coronavirus Defiance|Kayla Jimenez and Sara Libby|January 19, 2021|Voice of San Diego
She says that Americans must be prepared to “disobey the court” if it makes decisions that are not just.
Gloria Steinem on what Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation would mean|ehinchliffe|October 26, 2020|Fortune

As Martin Luther King said, if the rulings of the court are not just, we have a duty to disobey them—and we will simply disobey the court.
Gloria Steinem: ‘I’ve never seen this much activism in my life’|ehinchliffe|October 26, 2020|Fortune
These members vow to protect the constitution but also to disobey any governmental orders that they deem “unconstitutional.”
Oath Keepers: Bring On the Collapse!|Caitlin Dickson|October 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They never wanted to provoke, disobey, or be activists of any sort.
Women Of The Wall, Sarah Silverman-Style|Sigal Samuel|February 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“I managed to disobey, and fortunately the officers got distracted,” he adds.
Syrian Army Accused of Vicious, Systematic Rape|Jamie Dettmer|August 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
They are badly paid, badly trained, and threatened with early retirement or a court-martial if they disobey orders, says Mahfouz.
Corrupt and Brutal, Egypt’s Police Fight for Their Survival|Ursula Lindsey|November 22, 2011|DAILY BEAST
That privates should obey, and that they should be smartly punished if they disobey, this one can understand very well.
Little Travels and Roadside Sketches|William Makepeace Thackeray
A strong motive might induce her to disobey, but the disobedience in that case would be open.
A Forest Hearth: A Romance of Indiana in the Thirties|Charles Major
He said that he meant to disobey them; that the emergency, he believed, justified disobedience.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War|Various
When his back was turned they grumbled at him savagely, threatening to disobey, resolving to quit.
Blazed Trail Stories|Stewart Edward White
Probably he did not exactly understand the situation or he would hardly have encouraged a young girl to disobey her parents.
Napoleon's Young Neighbor|Helen Leah Reed

British Dictionary definitions for disobey

disobey

/ (ˌdɪsəˈbeɪ) /

verb

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

Derived forms of disobey

disobeyer, noun

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

disobey

OTHER WORDS FOR disobey

Origin of disobey

OTHER WORDS FROM disobey

Words nearby disobey

Words related to disobey

How to use disobey in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for disobey

Derived forms of disobey