If you think someone behaves in an unacceptable way and does not do what they are told, you can say they are rebellious.
...a rebellious teenager.
He grew older and more rebellious.
Synonyms: defiant, difficult, resistant, intractable More Synonyms of rebellious
rebelliousnessuncountable noun
...the normal rebelliousness of youth. [+ of]
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A rebellious group of people is a group involved in taking violent action against the rulers of their own country, usually in order to change the system of government there.
The prime minister will face even greater resistance from rebellious backbenchers.
More Synonyms of rebellious
rebellious in British English
(rɪˈbɛljəs)
adjective
1.
showing a tendency towards rebellion
2.
(of a problem, etc) difficult to overcome; refractory
Derived forms
rebelliously (reˈbelliously)
adverb
rebelliousness (reˈbelliousness)
noun
rebellious in American English
(rɪˈbɛljəs)
adjective
1.
resisting authority; engaged in rebellion
2.
of or like rebels or rebellion
3.
opposing any kind of control; defiant
4.
difficult to treat or handle
a rebellious cowlick
Derived forms
rebelliously (reˈbelliously)
adverb
rebelliousness (reˈbelliousness)
noun
Word origin
ME rebellous
Examples of 'rebellious' in a sentence
rebellious
What is causing this new rebellious streak?
The Sun (2009)
Potentially rebellious backbenchers stuck in their constituencies were not offered this facility.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This may be as rebellious as this younger brother will get.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Who could say that youth was rebellious.
Len Deighton Bomber
They also needed to retain its slightly rebellious streak.
The Sun (2008)
Others more mildly murmur that it destroys male confidence and breeds rebellious violence in young men.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The rebellious youth has become a grand old establishment figure.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Such a diet arouses our rebellious streak.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Signs of a rebellious streak are unlikely to do her image any harm.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
People round these parts have long had a rebellious streak.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I was young and rebellious and it seemed like a fine idea at the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I was a wild and rebellious youth.
The Sun (2013)
I think the younger, rebellious artists recognised that and admired him for fighting.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
France's notoriously rebellious youth are accustomed to protesting against the nation's leaders and laws.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
FAR from deterring rebellious young things from a life of crime, contact with criminal justice agencies could be driving them to it.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
rebellious
British English: rebellious /rɪˈbɛljəs/ ADJECTIVE
A rebellious person behaves in an unacceptable way and does not do what they are told.
...a rebellious teenager.
American English: rebellious
Arabic: مُتَمَرِّد
Brazilian Portuguese: rebelde
Chinese: 反叛的
Croatian: buntovan
Czech: vzpurný
Danish: oprørsk
Dutch: opstandig
European Spanish: rebelde
Finnish: kapinallinen
French: rebelle
German: rebellisch
Greek: επαναστατικός
Italian: ribelle
Japanese: 謀反の
Korean: 반항적인
Norwegian: opprørsk
Polish: buntowniczy
European Portuguese: rebelde
Romanian: rebel
Russian: мятежный
Latin American Spanish: rebelde
Swedish: upprorisk
Thai: ยากที่จะควบคุม
Turkish: isyankar
Ukrainian: бунтарський
Vietnamese: nổi loạn
Chinese translation of 'rebellious'
rebellious
(rɪˈbɛljəs)
adj
[person]叛逆的 (pànnì de)
[behaviour]反叛的 (fǎnpàn de)
[politician]反对(對)的 (fǎnduì de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
rebelling or showing a tendency towards rebellion
a rebellious teenager
Synonyms
defiant
Despite the risk of suspension, he remained defiant.
difficult
I had a feeling you were going to be difficult about this.
resistant
Some people are resistant to the idea of exercise.
intractable
How can we reduce the influence of intractable opponents?
recalcitrant
a recalcitrant child of an unhappy mother
obstinate
He is obstinate and determined and will not give up.
unmanageable
The signs are that indulged children tend to become unmanageable.
incorrigible
refractory
refractory priests who tried to side with the king
contumacious (literary)
Opposites
obedient
,
dutiful
,
subservient
2 (adjective)
Definition
rebelling or showing a tendency towards rebellion
a rebellious and dissident territory
Synonyms
revolutionary
Do you know anything about the revolutionary movement?
rebel
disorderly
disorderly conduct
unruly
It's not good enough just to blame the unruly children.
turbulent
six turbulent years of rows and reconciliations
disaffected
an attempt to regain the support of disaffected voters
insurgent
The insurgent leaders were put on trial.
recalcitrant
disloyal
seditious
He fell under suspicion for distributing seditious pamphlets.
mutinous
His own army, stung by defeat, is mutinous.
disobedient
Her tone was that of a parent ordering a disobedient child.
ungovernable
The country has become ungovernable.
insubordinate
Workers who are grossly insubordinate are threatened with discharge.
insurrectionary
Opposites
loyal
, subordinate,
patriotic
,
obedient
,
dutiful
Additional synonyms
in the sense of contumacious
Synonyms
obstinate,
stubborn,
perverse,
rebellious,
intractable,
recalcitrant,
haughty,
intransigent,
headstrong,
obdurate,
stiff-necked,
disobedient,
refractory,
pig-headed,
insubordinate
in the sense of difficult
Definition
not easily pleased or satisfied
I had a feeling you were going to be difficult about this.
Synonyms
troublesome,
trying,
awkward,
demanding,
rigid,
stubborn,
perverse,
fussy,
tiresome,
intractable,
fastidious,
fractious,
unyielding,
obstinate,
intransigent,
unmanageable,
unbending,
uncooperative,
hard to please,
refractory,
obstreperous,
pig-headed,
bull-headed,
unaccommodating,
unamenable
in the sense of disaffected
Definition
having lost loyalty to or affection for someone or something
an attempt to regain the support of disaffected voters
Synonyms
alienated,
resentful,
discontented,
hostile,
estranged,
dissatisfied,
rebellious,
antagonistic,
disloyal,
seditious,
mutinous,
uncompliant,
unsubmissive
Synonyms of 'rebellious'
rebellious
Explore 'rebellious' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disobedient
Definition
refusing to obey
Her tone was that of a parent ordering a disobedient child.
Synonyms
defiant,
disorderly,
contrary,
naughty,
wayward,
mischievous,
unruly,
intractable,
wilful,
undisciplined,
refractory,
obstreperous,
insubordinate,
noncompliant,
contumacious,
froward (archaic),
nonobservant
in the sense of disorderly
Definition
uncontrolled
disorderly conduct
Synonyms
unruly,
disruptive,
rowdy,
turbulent,
unlawful,
stormy,
rebellious,
boisterous,
tumultuous,
lawless,
riotous,
unmanageable,
ungovernable,
refractory,
obstreperous,
indisciplined
in the sense of insubordinate
Definition
not submissive to authority
Workers who are grossly insubordinate are threatened with discharge.
Synonyms
disobedient,
defiant,
rebellious,
disorderly,
turbulent,
unruly,
insurgent,
recalcitrant,
fractious,
riotous,
undisciplined,
seditious,
mutinous,
ungovernable,
refractory,
contumacious (literary)
in the sense of insurgent
Definition
rebellious or in revolt against an established authority
The insurgent leaders were put on trial.
Synonyms
rebellious,
revolutionary,
mutinous,
revolting,
riotous,
seditious,
disobedient,
insubordinate,
insurrectionary
in the sense of intractable
Definition
(of a person) difficult to influence or direct
How can we reduce the influence of intractable opponents?
Synonyms
difficult,
contrary,
awkward,
wild,
stubborn,
perverse,
wayward,
unruly,
uncontrollable,
wilful,
incurable,
fractious,
unyielding,
obstinate,
intransigent,
headstrong,
unmanageable,
undisciplined,
cantankerous,
unbending,
obdurate,
uncooperative,
stiff-necked,
ungovernable,
self-willed,
refractory,
obstreperous,
pig-headed,
bull-headed
in the sense of mutinous
Definition
openly rebellious
His own army, stung by defeat, is mutinous.
Synonyms
rebellious,
revolutionary,
turbulent,
subversive,
unruly,
insurgent,
riotous,
unmanageable,
seditious,
disobedient,
ungovernable,
refractory,
bolshie (British, informal),
insubordinate,
contumacious (literary)
in the sense of obstinate
Definition
keeping stubbornly to a particular opinion or course of action
He is obstinate and determined and will not give up.
Synonyms
stubborn,
dogged,
determined,
persistent,
firm,
perverse,
intractable,
inflexible,
wilful,
tenacious,
recalcitrant,
steadfast,
unyielding,
opinionated,
intransigent,
immovable,
headstrong,
unmanageable,
cussed,
strong-minded,
unbending,
obdurate,
stiff-necked,
unshakable,
self-willed,
refractory,
pig-headed,
bull-headed,
mulish,
contumacious,
pertinacious
in the sense of recalcitrant
Definition
wilfully disobedient
a recalcitrant child of an unhappy mother
Synonyms
disobedient,
contrary,
unwilling,
defiant,
stubborn,
wayward,
unruly,
uncontrollable,
intractable,
wilful,
obstinate,
unmanageable,
ungovernable,
refractory,
insubordinate,
contumacious (literary)
in the sense of refractory
Definition
stubborn or rebellious
refractory priests who tried to side with the king
Synonyms
unmanageable,
difficult,
stubborn,
contentious,
perverse,
unruly,
uncontrollable,
intractable,
wilful,
recalcitrant,
obstinate,
headstrong,
cantankerous,
uncooperative,
stiff-necked,
disobedient,
disputatious,
mulish,
contumacious (literary)
in the sense of resistant
Some people are resistant to the idea of exercise.
Synonyms
opposed,
hostile,
dissident,
unwilling,
defiant,
intractable,
combative,
recalcitrant,
antagonistic,
intransigent
Additional synonyms
in the sense of seditious
He fell under suspicion for distributing seditious pamphlets.
Synonyms
revolutionary,
dissident,
subversive,
rebellious,
disloyal,
mutinous,
refractory,
treasonable,
insubordinate
in the sense of turbulent
Definition
(of people) wild and unruly
six turbulent years of rows and reconciliations
Synonyms
wild,
violent,
disorderly,
agitated,
rebellious,
unruly,
rowdy,
boisterous,
anarchic,
tumultuous,
lawless,
unbridled,
riotous,
undisciplined,
seditious,
mutinous,
ungovernable,
uproarious,
refractory,
obstreperous,
insubordinate
in the sense of ungovernable
Definition
(of a country or area) not able to be effectively governed, esp. because of unrest or violence
The country has become ungovernable.
Synonyms
unruly,
rebellious,
unmanageable,
refractory
in the sense of unmanageable
Definition
difficult to use, deal with, or control, esp. because it is too big
The signs are that indulged children tend to become unmanageable.
Synonyms
uncontrollable,
difficult,
wild,
out of hand,
disruptive,
unruly,
troublesome,
intractable,
boisterous,
fractious,
undisciplined,
stroppy (British, slang),
incorrigible,
refractory,
obstreperous
in the sense of unruly
Definition
difficult to control or organize
It's not good enough just to blame the unruly children.