rebellious
[ri-bel-yuh s]
- defying or resisting some established authority, government, or tradition; insubordinate; inclined to rebel.
- pertaining to or characteristic of rebels or rebellion.
- (of things) resisting treatment; refractory.
Show More
Origin of rebellious
Synonyms
See more synonyms for rebellious on Thesaurus.com1. defiant, insurgent, mutinous, seditious, rebel, refractory, disobedient, contumacious.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for rebelliousness
Contemporary Examples
The rebelliousness of music spoke to this child of hippies and Levine had found his subculture.
Historical Examples
And submissive, where rebelliousness would not have been without excuse.
Bunyan Characters - Third SeriesAlexander Whyte
Britt's ugly stare was taking the spirit out of the landlord's rebelliousness.
When Egypt Went BrokeHolman Day
For her rebelliousness and general contumacy she was condemned to be burned alive.
Idling in ItalyJoseph Collins
Notwithstanding my youth, my spirit has no fears of incurring a like rebelliousness.
Pepita XimenezJuan Valera
Back of this rebelliousness lay a certain amount of British influence.
The Old NorthwestFrederic Austin Ogg
rebellious
- showing a tendency towards rebellion
- (of a problem, etc) difficult to overcome; refractory
Show More
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 rebelliousness
rebellious
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper