rebellious

[ri-bel-yuhs] / rɪˈbɛl yəs /

ADJECTIVE

disobedient, unmanageable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alienated disaffected fractious recalcitrant restless turbulent unruly warring

WEAK

anarchistic attacking bellicose contumacious defiant difficult disloyal disobedient disorderly dissident factious iconoclastic incorrigible individualistic insurgent insurrectionary intractable mutinous obstinate pugnacious quarrelsome radical rebel refractory resistant revolutionary rioting riotous sabotaging seditious threatening treasonable ungovernable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

happy obedient

WEAK

compliant governable manageable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When it was founded in Aberdeenshire the firm portrayed itself as a rebellious challenger to a UK brewing industry it regarded as stuffy and corporate.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

Fashion historian Dr Helen Walter says Westwood's "punk" approach to tartan transformed it from being something associated with staid British cultural norms and gave it a rebellious streak.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

He walked away with $50,000, and child-star Olsen got a rebellious rebrand.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026

To land the role of a rebellious cadet in “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy,” 26-year-old Sandro Rosta had to do a chemistry read over Zoom with Holly Hunter.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2026

I’m all for being rebellious, but this seems like a death wish.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott

Vocabulary lists containing rebellious

Fighting Words: Belli and Milit

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List 7

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Tears of a Tiger

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