rebellious

[ ri-bel-yuhs ]
See synonyms for rebellious on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. defying or resisting some established authority, government, or tradition; insubordinate; inclined to rebel.

  2. pertaining to or characteristic of rebels or rebellion.

  1. (of things) resisting treatment; refractory.

Origin of rebellious

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin rebelliōsus, from Latin rebelli(ō) “war renewal, revolt” (see rebellion ) + -ōsus -ous

Other words for rebellious

Other words from rebellious

  • re·bel·lious·ly, adverb
  • re·bel·lious·ness, noun
  • half-re·bel·lious, adjective
  • half-re·bel·lious·ly, adverb
  • half-re·bel·lious·ness, noun
  • non·re·bel·lious, adjective
  • non·re·bel·lious·ly, adverb
  • non·re·bel·lious·ness, noun
  • qua·si-re·bel·lious, adjective
  • qua·si-re·bel·lious·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·re·bel·lious, adjective
  • sem·i·re·bel·lious·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·re·bel·lious·ness, noun
  • un·re·bel·lious, adjective
  • un·re·bel·lious·ly, adverb
  • un·re·bel·lious·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use rebellious in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rebellious

rebellious

/ (rɪˈbɛljəs) /


adjective
  1. showing a tendency towards rebellion

  2. (of a problem, etc) difficult to overcome; refractory

Derived forms of rebellious

  • rebelliously, adverb
  • rebelliousness, 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