Disobeying — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˌdis-ə-ˈbā/ dis·obey

Meaning & Definition of Disobeying

Disobeying (verb)

  1. to be disobedient
  2. to fail to obey

Disobeying (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of

    "students who disobey their teachers and use cell phones in class"

    "drivers who consistently disobey traffic laws"

    similar: defying, mocking, rebelling (against)
    related: disobliging, mutinying (against), revolting (against), disregarding, ignoring, overlooking, overpassing, passing over, tuning out, brushing (off), dismissing, flouting, pooh-poohing, rejecting, scoffing (at), scorning, shrugging off, winking (at), breaching, breaking, infringing, transgressing, violating, bucking, combating, contesting, disputing, fighting, opposing, resisting, withstanding
    opposite: complying (with), conforming (to), following, minding, obeying
    near: capitulating (to), conceding (to), deferring (to), goose-stepping (to), serving, stooping (to), submitting (to), surrendering (to), yielding (to), cooperating (with), keeping, observing, acceding (to), acquiescing (to), agreeing (to), assenting (to), obliging, attending, hearing, heeding, listening (to), marking, noticing, noting, regarding, watching

Related Entry: Disobey (verb)

Disobey is a different word from Disobeying. The synonyms below are for disobey, not for disobeying.

  1. to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of

    "students who disobey their teachers and use cell phones in class"

    "drivers who consistently disobey traffic laws"

    similar: defy, mock, rebel (against)
    related: disoblige, mutiny (against), revolt (against), disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out, brush (off), dismiss, flout, pooh-pooh, reject, scoff (at), scorn, shrug off, wink (at), breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate, buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand
    opposite: comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey
    near: capitulate (to), concede (to), defer (to), goose-step (to), serve, stoop (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), cooperate (with), keep, observe, accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), oblige, attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watch

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Disobeying

The most common words with a similar meaning to Disobeying:

defying, mocking, rebelling (against)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Disobeying

Words with the opposite meaning of Disobeying:

complying (with), conforming (to), following, minding, obeying

Related Words for Disobeying

disobliging, mutinying (against), revolting (against), disregarding, ignoring, overlooking, overpassing, passing over, tuning out, brushing (off), dismissing, flouting, pooh-poohing, rejecting, scoffing (at), scorning, shrugging off, winking (at), breaching, breaking, infringing, transgressing, violating, bucking, combating, contesting, disputing, fighting, opposing, resisting

Near Antonyms of Disobeying

capitulating (to), conceding (to), deferring (to), goose-stepping (to), serving, stooping (to), submitting (to), surrendering (to), yielding (to), cooperating (with), keeping, observing, acceding (to), acquiescing (to), agreeing (to), assenting (to), obliging, attending, hearing, heeding, listening (to), marking, noticing, noting, regarding, watching

Word Forms of Disobeying

Inflections: disobeyed, disobeys

Derived words: disobeyer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Disobeying

Middle English, from Anglo-French desobeir, from des- dis- + obeir to obey

First known use: 14th centuryi

Frequently Asked Questions about Disobeying

What does "Disobeying" mean?

"Disobeying" means to be disobedient. As a verb, it is defined as: to be disobedient.

What is another word for "Disobeying"?

Other words for "Disobeying" include defying, mocking and rebelling (against). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Disobeying" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Disobeying"?

There are 34 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Disobeying". Common alternatives include defying, mocking and rebelling (against).

What is the opposite of "Disobeying"?

Antonyms of "Disobeying" include complying (with), conforming (to), following, minding and obeying. Near antonyms include capitulating (to), conceding (to), deferring (to) and goose-stepping (to).

How do you use "Disobeying" in a sentence?

Examples of "Disobeying" in a sentence: "students who disobey their teachers and use cell phones in class"; "drivers who consistently disobey traffic laws".

Is "Disobeying" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Disobeying" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Disobeying"?

"Disobeying" is pronounced /ˌdis-ə-ˈbā/ and divided into syllables as dis·obey.

What is the origin of the word "Disobeying"?

"Disobeying" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French desobeir, from des- dis- + obeir to obey. First known use: 14th centuryi.