rebellious

adjective

re·​bel·​lious ri-ˈbel-yəs How to pronounce rebellious (audio)
1
a
: given to or engaged in rebellion
rebellious troops
b
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a rebel or rebellion
a rebellious speech
2
: resisting treatment or management : refractory
rebelliously adverb
rebelliousness noun

Examples of rebellious in a Sentence

the rebellious troops fought a pitched battle with divisions still loyal to the government expected her son to grow a little more rebellious as he got older, but she knew he understood when to kick and when to obey
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The current state of his ’stache, more tweezed than Hughes’s rebellious bushy caterpillar, is owed to that role. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024 Tired of the toxic culture within the group, Veronica teams up with her rebellious new boyfriend, J.D. (played by Christian Slater), and things quickly spiral out of control as their plot to take down the Heathers turns deadly. Jane Lacroix, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024 Her funny dynamics with her siblings were more than relatable with Justin (David Henrie) as the smart, trustworthy kind of uptight eldest sibling, Alex, as the middle child with a rebellious spirit, and Max (Jake T. Austin) as the funny and a bit dumb younger brother. Stephanie Andrade, StyleCaster, 29 Oct. 2024 Her religious fervor often puts her in the role of disciplinarian for her rebellious niece Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka) and soft-hearted sister Hilda (Lucy Davis), both of whom lack the discipline to serve the Dark Lord with the proper rigor. Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rebellious 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rebellious was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near rebellious

Cite this Entry

“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebellious. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

rebellious

adjective
re·​bel·​lious ri-ˈbel-yəs How to pronounce rebellious (audio)
1
: taking part in rebellion
2
: tending to fight against or disobey authority
rebelliously adverb
rebelliousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rebellious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!