disorderly

[dis-awr-der-lee]

See more synonyms for disorderly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

characterized by disorder; irregular; untidy; confused: a disorderly desk.
unruly; turbulent; tumultuous: a disorderly mob.
Law. contrary to public order or morality.

adverb

in a disorderly manner.

Origin of disorderly

First recorded in 1555–65; dis-¹ + orderly

Related formsdis·or·der·li·ness, nounun·dis·or·der·ly, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for disorderly

chaotic, undisciplined, disorganized, jumbled, fractious, rowdy, rebellious, raucous, disruptive, unruly, confused, heterogeneous, indiscriminate, irregular, scattered, slovenly, topsy-turvy, tumult, unkempt, unrestrained

Examples from the Web for disorderly

Contemporary Examples of disorderly

In 2007, at Jamaica high school in Queens, teachers started calling 911 to get police to help them deal with disorderly students.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans
Philip K. Howard
December 27, 2014
A new book about Victorian-era London reminds us that unregulated, disorderly places grow into great metropolises.
Great Cities are Born Filthy
Will Doig
July 13, 2014
Petit turned himself over to police and was arrested for disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing.
We Should Applaud the World Trade Center Jumpers, Not Prosecute Them
Justin Miller
March 25, 2014
He was arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct in New Orleans.
Church of Scientology Details Error in Lawrence Wright’s Book
Karen Pouw
January 23, 2013
He was ultimately fined $600 for two citations of disorderly conduct.
Ezra Miller on ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower,’ Being Bisexual & More
Marlow Stern
September 18, 2012

Historical Examples of disorderly

There was a whole hierarchy of respect, outside of which existence was unrestrained and disorderly.
The Dream
Emile Zola
Flushed with victory, the troops were found riotous and disorderly.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles
Then, pushing them together into a disorderly heap, she started to her feet and faced him.
The Dominant Strain
Anna Chapin Ray
The Chinaman stokers went in a disorderly rush for the port boats.
End of the Tether
Joseph Conrad
The room was a large one, very dirty, ill-furnished, and disorderly.
Tony Butler
Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for disorderly

disorderly

adjective

untidy; irregular
uncontrolled; unruly
law violating public peace or order

adverb

in an irregular or confused manner

Derived Formsdisorderliness, 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

Word Origin and History for disorderly

adj.

1580s, "opposed to moral order," also "opposed to legal authority;" see dis- + orderly (adj.). The meaning "untidy" is attested from 1630s; the older senses are those in disorderly house, disorderly conduct, etc.