obedience
noun
obe·di·ence
ō-ˈbē-dē-ən(t)s 
ə-
1
a
: an act or instance of obeying
b
: the quality or state of being obedient
Children should learn obedience and respect for authority.
2
: a sphere of jurisdiction
landowners within the king's obedience
especially
: an ecclesiastical or sometimes secular dominion
under the obedience of the Bishop of Rome
Examples of obedience in a Sentence
the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits
the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command
Recent Examples on the Web
This can be through walking, obedience training, running, games of fetch, or swimming.
—
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
There may have been very little emotional vulnerability exchanged between kids and parents, while kids were required to perform obedience rather than express their authentic selves.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 6 May 2025
For would-be advisers and Cabinet officers, obedience was the sole qualification.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
When children are young, obedience and compliance are important.
—Ruth Oh Reitmeier, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
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Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
There may have been very little emotional vulnerability exchanged between kids and parents, while kids were required to perform obedience rather than express their authentic selves.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 6 May 2025
For would-be advisers and Cabinet officers, obedience was the sole qualification.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
When children are young, obedience and compliance are important.
—Ruth Oh Reitmeier, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
Cite this Entry
“Obedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obedience. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obedience
noun
obe·di·ence
ō-ˈbēd-ē-ən(t)s
ə-
1
: an act or instance of obeying
2
: the quality or state of being obedient
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