unruly

[uhn-roo-lee] / ʌnˈru li /

ADJECTIVE

disobedient

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disorderly drunken fractious impulsive lawless ornery quarrelsome rebellious recalcitrant reckless restive riotous rowdy turbulent uncontrollable unmanageable violent wayward

WEAK

assertive bawdy forward headstrong heedless impervious impetuous imprudent incorrigible inexorable insubordinate intemperate intractable mean mutinous obstreperous opinionated out of control out of line perverse rash refractory ungovernable unyielding wild willful

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreeable calm cautious controllable happy manageable mild moderate obedient passive patient

WEAK

compliant yielding

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.

But it also attracted scores of photographers, visual artists, taggers and scene kids who documented the unruly energy brimming over these grim industrial landscapes, lighted up with flames and police chopper spotlights.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

The dill should read bright and grassy, a little unruly.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

The Federal Aviation Administration has strict rules and a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding unruly passengers.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

The pandemic amplified the behavior, with reports of unruly passengers rising sixfold between 2020 and 2021, according to the FAA.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

Normally she would have noticed that a few unruly locks of Emma’s hair were already slipping out of her ponytail rubber band and Emma had started absent-mindedly twirling one of them around her finger.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Vocabulary lists containing unruly

List 6

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"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act II

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Tears of a Tiger

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