ungovernable
adjective
Synonyms
- balky
- contrary
- contumacious
- defiant
- disobedient
- froward
- incompliant
- insubordinate
- intractable
- obstreperous
- rebel
- rebellious
- recalcitrant
- recusant
- refractory
- restive
- unruly
- untoward
- wayward
- willful
- wilful
Example Sentences
Borso Tall, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 Some of this is in consequence of Johnson’s own incurable temperament and ungovernable appetites. Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 11 July 2022 Women will become ungovernable as these unjust laws begin to be the law of the land in states across the country. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 4 May 2022 The old nostrum that France is ungovernable may be tested again. New York Times, 23 Apr. 2022 During his tenure, militants linked to the Islamic State and al-Qaeda have upended life in the nation of 21 million, rendering much of the countryside ungovernable and driving at least 1.4 million people from their homes. Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2022 Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is pledging to make the chamber all but ungovernable if the rules change gambit succeeds. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 12 Jan. 2022 So listen: Right now your space, your beautiful space, your ungovernable American ether, is going bloody haywire. James Parker, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2021 At their most cynical, sanctions are a deliberate attempt to trigger an ungovernable humanitarian crisis, which will undermine Taliban authority. Ryan Cooper, The Week, 31 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
1673, in the meaning defined above
ungovernable
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- rebellious
- rebel
- defiant
- unruly
- intractable
- obstreperous
- stubborn
- restive
- willful
- wayward
- contumacious
- recalcitrant
- uncontrollable
- disobedient
- contrary
- rigid
- mischievous
- insubordinate
- naughty
- balky
- refractory
- incompliant
- adamant
- wild
- insurgent
- wilful
- unmanageable
- dogged
- mutinous
- untoward
- froward
- dissident
- recusant
- uncooperative
- bad
- rude
- fractious
- implacable
- resistant
- disorderly
- peevish
- obstinate
- obdurate
- monkeying
- undisciplined
- negativistic
- inflexible
- uncompromising
- wrongheaded
- unrelenting
- mulish
- perverse
- noncooperative
- immovable
- pigheaded
- unyielding
- headstrong
- opinionated
- pertinacious
- unbending
- adamantine
- uncivil
- impudent
- misbehaving
- insolent
- hardheaded
- self-willed
- unmannerly
- uncouth
- disrespectful
- ungracious
- errant
- discourteous
- nonconformist
- impertinent
- ornery
- inconsiderate
- impolite
- ill-mannered
- ill-bred
- monkeyish
- ill-natured
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- docile
- tractable
- obedient
- amiable
- compliant
- amenable
- conformable
- cooperative
- submissive
- biddable
- agreeable
- acquiescent
- deferential
- obliging
- behaved
- yielding
- ruly
- disciplined
- governable
- respectful
- courteous
- polite
- subservient
- orderly
- servile
- slavish
- obsequious
- proper
- controllable
- decorous
- mannerly
- manageable
- well-bred
- trainable
- kowtowing
Synonyms & Similar Words
- uncontrollable
- unmanageable
- unruly
- intractable
- stubborn
- incontrollable
- rebellious
- wayward
- recalcitrant
- difficult
- willful
- headstrong
- refractory
- wilful
- naughty
- undisciplined
- intransigent
- uncontrolled
- incorrigible
- froward
- wild
- obstinate
- untoward
- obdurate
- perverse
- out of hand
- mulish
- irrepressible
- pigheaded
- bullheaded
- rowdy
- boisterous
- rambunctious
- stiff
- self-willed
- opinionated
- disobedient
- contrary
- unpunished
- hardheaded
- indocile
- insubordinate
- misbehaving
- stiff-necked
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- governable
- controllable
- tractable
- manageable
- docile
- obedient
- compliant
- submissive
- placable
- pliable
- yielding
- receptive
- responsive
- willing
- persuadable
- reasonable
- well-behaved
- accepting
- temperate
- trainable
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of ungovernable are headstrong, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, unruly, and willful. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.
The words headstrong and ungovernable can be used in similar contexts, but headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.
The meanings of intractable and ungovernable largely overlap; however, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.
The words recalcitrant and ungovernable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.
In some situations, the words refractory and ungovernable are roughly equivalent. However, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.
Although the words unruly and ungovernable have much in common, unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.
While in some cases nearly identical to ungovernable, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.