unruly

[ uhn-roo-lee ]

/ ʌnˈru li /

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See synonyms for unruly on Thesaurus.com

adjective, un·ru·li·er, un·ru·li·est.

not submissive or conforming to rule; ungovernable; turbulent; intractable; refractory; lawless: an unruly class; an unruly wilderness.

OTHER WORDS FOR unruly

disobedient, unmanageable, uncontrollable, stubborn, disorderly, riotous.

See synonyms for unruly on Thesaurus.com

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of unruly

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English unruely, equivalent to un-un-¹ + ruly, ruely “governable, controllable”; see rule, -y¹

synonym study for unruly

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM unruly

un·ru·li·ness, noun

Words nearby unruly

unrove, unroven, UNRRA, unruffle, unruffled, unruly, unruly certificate, UNRWA, Uns, unsaddle, unsaddling enclosure

How to use unruly in a sentence

I was particularly smitten with the ability to drive relatively fast and comfortably on unruly roads.
Sprinter vs. Teardrop Trailer: What's Best for Camping?|Will Taylor|November 28, 2020|Outside Online
They stood up and clapped when unruly challengers were tossed from the room.
‘We will not allow anyone to stop us’: Day and night, under historic scrutiny, the nation’s vote counters carried on|Amy Gardner, Reis Thebault, Hannah Knowles, Michelle Lee|November 9, 2020|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.
Election live updates: Debate commission says it will change structure to ensure more ‘orderly discussion’|John Wagner, Felicia Sonmez, Amy B Wang|September 30, 2020|Washington Post
But, there’s only so much training that can help store employees when dealing with an unruly customer in the moment.
By being too customer-obsessed, DTC startups are failing their retail employees|Anna Hensel|August 21, 2020|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.
By being too customer-obsessed, DTC startups are failing their retail employees|Anna Hensel|August 21, 2020|Digiday
And in informal talks, Chinese leaders have compared hackers on both sides to unruly children who can only barely be controlled.
Obama Could Hit China to Punish North Korea|Shane Harris, Tim Mak|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is an article of faith with this man that there won't be any unruly behavior or, God forbid, any scenes.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And if anyone thought this was an abdication and a letting go of the unruly region they need to think again.
Eastern Ukraine Braces for ‘Full-Scale War’|Jamie Dettmer|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ancient night and the unruly salt beat at the walls of my house.
In Chile, Poetry Outlives the Dictators|Jay Parini|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2012, for example, Brian Claunch, a wheelchair-bound double amputee living in a group home in Houston, became unruly.
Why Killer Cops Walk Free|Dean Obeidallah|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Joe saw her slim against the light, and his thoughts were like the sea surge, wild, unruly.
The Man from Time|Frank Belknap Long
No one was willing to risk his life by mounting such an unruly animal.
Stories about Animals: with Pictures to Match|Francis C. Woodworth
He would not defend the deceiving priest; but no unruly men-at-arms should touch a hair of Sebastian, if he also was menaced.
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
Always an unruly fellow, and dangerous to trust among crockery.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. I. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
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.
The Story of the Thirteen Colonies|H. A. (Hlne Adeline) Guerber

British Dictionary definitions for unruly

unruly

/ (ʌnˈruːlɪ) /

adjective -lier or -liest

disposed to disobedience or indiscipline

Derived forms of unruly

unruliness, 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

unruly

OTHER WORDS FOR unruly

Origin of unruly

synonym study for unruly

OTHER WORDS FROM unruly

Words nearby unruly

Words related to unruly

How to use unruly in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for unruly

Derived forms of unruly