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
In March 1856, Little Thunder was forced to shake hands with Harney, who had summoned leaders of the seven Lakota bands to Fort Pierre, in South Dakota, to dictate his terms for peace—essentially, obedience and docility.
—
Tim Madigan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Their doodle graduated first in its class from obedience school; next stop, Westminster.
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
This mission feels like the ultimate test of obedience for Sinan, especially since the disgraceful discharge and tragic end of their father still cast a shadow over his otherwise spotless career prospects.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Oct. 2024
His team would consist not of experienced, independent advisers but of blind loyalists, many among them dedicated to carrying out the plans in Project 2025 to deconstruct the national security apparatus, including the military, to ensure its absolute obedience to the chief executive.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obedience 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tim Madigan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Their doodle graduated first in its class from obedience school; next stop, Westminster.
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
This mission feels like the ultimate test of obedience for Sinan, especially since the disgraceful discharge and tragic end of their father still cast a shadow over his otherwise spotless career prospects.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Oct. 2024
His team would consist not of experienced, independent advisers but of blind loyalists, many among them dedicated to carrying out the plans in Project 2025 to deconstruct the national security apparatus, including the military, to ensure its absolute obedience to the chief executive.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obedience
Dictionary Entries Near obedience
Cite this Entry
“Obedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obedience. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share