1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
unruly pupils were given detention as a matter of course
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
given to resisting control or discipline by others
a camp that was known as a place where unruly youths were given their last chance to shape up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in anarchical
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
unruly mobs roamed the streets of the capital after the government leaders had fled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of unruly
When this occurs, the face of the film’s petite, yet unruly namesake morphs into Ao Bing’s more delicate facial features while in the same body.
—
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Mar. 2025
The community is pocked by large, unruly trees and overgrown shrubbery where residents see coyotes, bobcats and once even a panther.
—Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
Top Five Cryptocurrency Exchanges By Saul Hudson Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
opinion
0
Crypto's spectacle is once again loud and unruly.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
This includes making a claim through their Partner Liability Insurance program, or reporting guests' unruly behavior using their guest misconduct tool.
—Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unruly
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Mar. 2025
The community is pocked by large, unruly trees and overgrown shrubbery where residents see coyotes, bobcats and once even a panther.
—Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
Top Five Cryptocurrency Exchanges By Saul Hudson Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
opinion
0
Crypto's spectacle is once again loud and unruly.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
This includes making a claim through their Partner Liability Insurance program, or reporting guests' unruly behavior using their guest misconduct tool.
—Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unruly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unruly
Adjective
-
In addition, parents who are too strict might even end up with kids who are extra rebellious.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Boon will play Eddie Harrigan, Kevin’s rebellious son.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
But four months after becoming the first Republican in two decades to win the popular vote, Trump faces a new reality of needing to tackle some of the most stubborn challenges awaiting any new president and deliver on his campaign promises to lower prices.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
The Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Like this Fire sign, Drizella is unapologetically stubborn and impatience, believing she is entitled to nothing but the best.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The attacks started this week after reports emerged that Assad loyalists had ambushed and killed members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – the rebel group that spearheaded the rebellion that ousted the former Syrian leader.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN,
9 Mar. 2025
-
The singer and the songwriter traversed the frontlines of the urban guerrilla war that had consumed the city of Homs by that point, with one half of the city overtaken by regime soldiers and the other half controlled by rebel groups.—
Jawad Rizkallah,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
One in three Americans report carrying unmanageable levels of debt in 2024, according to a recent study from the Financial Health Network.—
Sacramento Bee,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Without this foundation, systems and processes will fail—and the resulting manual, frustrating work will become unmanageable.—
Rana Robillard,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Caleb McCray, 23, a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, was charged with manslaughter and felony criminal hazing, according to court records.—
Neil Vigdor,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The court said the investigative agency that detained Yoon before his formal arrest didn’t have legal rights to investigate the criminal rebellion charges.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images A defiant President Trump defended imposing new tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico – three of the United States' largest and most crucial trading partners – at a joint session of Congress Tuesday night.—
Obed Manuel,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Trump, in a defiant victory lap speech lasting roughly 100 minutes, credited his predecessor for high inflation and vowed to bring down the costs of everyday goods while previewing further economic pain from new tariffs.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Joking was her version of uncontrollable tears, but Dr. Fenton neither laughed nor pressed to see what was behind Lilian’s inane laughter.—
Yiyun Li,
The New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Separating benefits from employee health also allows businesses to escape uncontrollable, often double-digit, group plan renewals.—
Jack Hooper,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Fragmented on normal days, the web bordered on anarchic Monday.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
11 Mar. 2025
-
The dark chaos of Keef’s beats are obvious, but the Indianapolis producer extracts what’s also really majestic and pretty about them, and the anarchic maximalism of Back From the Dead 2 feels like his main inspiration.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unruly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unruly. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share