unruly

[ uhn-roo-lee ]

adjective

, un·ru·li·er, un·ru·li·est.

1. not submissive or conforming to rule; ungovernable; turbulent; intractable; refractory; lawless:

   an unruly class; an unruly wilderness.

   Synonyms: unmanageable, riotous, disorderly, stubborn, uncontrollable, disobedient

unruly

/ ʌnˈruːlɪ /

adjective

1. disposed to disobedience or indiscipline

Derived Forms

• unˈruliness, noun

Other Words From

• un·ruli·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unruly¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English unruely, equivalent to un- un- ¹ + ruly, ruely “governable, controllable”; rule, -y ¹

Synonym Study

Unruly, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory describe persons or things that resist management or control. Unruly suggests persistently disorderly behavior or character in persons or things: an unruly child, peevish and willful; wild, unruly hair. Intractable suggests in persons a determined resistance to all attempts to guide or direct them, in things a refusal to respond to attempts to shape, improve, or modify them: an intractable social rebel; a seemingly intractable problem in logistics. recalcitrant and refractory imply not only a lack of submissiveness but also an open, often violent, rebellion against authority or direction. Recalcitrant, the stronger of the two terms, suggests a stubborn and absolute noncompliance: a recalcitrant person, openly contemptuous of all authority. Refractory implies active, mulish disobedience, but leaves open the possibility of eventual compliance: refractory students, resisting efforts to interest them in their studies.

Example Sentences

I was particularly smitten with the ability to drive relatively fast and comfortably on unruly roads.

From Outside Online

They stood up and clapped when unruly challengers were tossed from the room.

From Washington Post

The televised debates are supposed to be “for the benefit of the American electorate,” the commission said in a statement Wednesday, implying that Tuesday night’s unruly slugfest did not achieve that goal.

From Washington Post

But, there’s only so much training that can help store employees when dealing with an unruly customer in the moment.

From Digiday

As recent instances of customers responding violently to employees who have asked them to wear a mask have shown, employees have good reason to fear unruly customers.

From Digiday

And in informal talks, Chinese leaders have compared hackers on both sides to unruly children who can only barely be controlled.

From The Daily Beast

It is an article of faith with this man that there won't be any unruly behavior or, God forbid, any scenes.

From The Daily Beast

And if anyone thought this was an abdication and a letting go of the unruly region they need to think again.

From The Daily Beast

Ancient night and the unruly salt  beat at the walls of my house.

From The Daily Beast

In 2012, for example, Brian Claunch, a wheelchair-bound double amputee living in a group home in Houston, became unruly.

From The Daily Beast

Joe saw her slim against the light, and his thoughts were like the sea surge, wild, unruly.

From Project Gutenberg

No one was willing to risk his life by mounting such an unruly animal.

From Project Gutenberg

He would not defend the deceiving priest; but no unruly men-at-arms should touch a hair of Sebastian, if he also was menaced.

From Project Gutenberg

Always an unruly fellow, and dangerous to trust among crockery.

From Project Gutenberg

The sexton, armed with a long stick, rapped the boys on the head if they proved unruly, or poked the men when they fell asleep.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disorderly
• drunken
• fractious
• impulsive
• lawless
• ornery
• quarrelsome
• rebellious
• recalcitrant
• reckless
• restive
• riotous
• rowdy
• turbulent
• uncontrollable
• unmanageable
• violent
• wayward