obedient

[oh-bee-dee-uhnt]

See more synonyms for obedient on Thesaurus.com

adjective

obeying or willing to obey; complying with or submissive to authority: an obedient son.

Origin of obedient

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin oboedient- (stem of oboediēns), present participle of oboedīre to obey; see -ent

Related formso·be·di·ent·ly, adverbo·ver·o·be·di·ent, adjectiveo·ver·o·be·di·ent·ly, adverbpre·o·be·di·ent, adjectivepre·o·be·di·ent·ly, adverbqua·si-o·be·di·ent, adjectivequa·si-o·be·di·ent·ly, adverbsu·per·o·be·di·ent, adjectivesu·per·o·be·di·ent·ly, adverb

Synonyms for obedient

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

compliant, docile, tractable, yielding, deferential, respectful.

Antonyms for obedient

recalcitrant.

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

Related Words for obedient

devoted, faithful, compliant, deferential, loyal, docile, subservient, dutiful, attentive, respectful, law-abiding, acquiescent, amenable, biddable, complaisant, controllable, duteous, governable, obeisant, obliging

Examples from the Web for obedient

Contemporary Examples of obedient

He is, however, obedient about not turning on the stove burner without permission.
The Ridiculousness of Father's Day
P. J. O’Rourke
June 15, 2014
Prachi, meanwhile, is obedient to her father, but has a major problem with his mandate that she wed.
Models vs. Militants: Nisha Pahuja’s Film Shows Two Worlds of Indian Women
Abigail Pesta
May 5, 2012
Inside her home, she was an obedient Nigerian child, eating beef stews for breakfast and wearing the traditional garb.
Adepero Oduye, 'Pariah's' Scene Stealer
Lorenza Muñoz
December 27, 2011
Asian girls are subservient, obedient, and bred for male pleasure.
Obama's Porn Problem With Liberals
McKay Coppins
April 21, 2011

Historical Examples of obedient

Here stands its Government, aware of its might but obedient to its conscience.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
I am with esteem, Your most obedient humble servant, N. Greene.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James
I have the honour to be Your obedient servant, Francis Marion.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James
Had she been obedient only to that she had been taught, or obedient to the very God?
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
Rico, obedient as ever, began to play, and also to sing his own song as usual.
Rico and Wiseli
Johanna Spyri

British Dictionary definitions for obedient

obedient

adjective

obeying or willing to obey

Derived Formsobediently, adverb

Word Origin for obedient

C13: from Old French, from Latin oboediens, present participle of oboedīre to obey

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 obedient

adj.

c.1200, from Old French obedient "obedient" (11c.), from Latin oboedientem (nominative oboediens), present participle of oboedire "to obey" (see obey). Related: Obediently.