disorderly
1 of 2adverb
dis·or·der·ly (ˌ)dis-ˈȯrd-ər-lē 
(ˌ)diz-
archaic
: in a disorderly manner
disorderly
2 of 2adjective
1
: engaged in conduct offensive to public order
charged with being drunk and disorderly
2
: characterized by disorder
a disorderly pile of clothes
disorderliness noun
Synonyms
Adjective
- anarchic
- anarchical
- lawbreaking
- lawless
- unruly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective She was charged with being drunk and disorderly. He was found guilty of disorderly conduct.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 15 Aug. 2022 Police were called to Main Street in the city's downtown to respond to reports of a disorderly crowd, Lt. Colonel Mike John of the Cincinnati Police Department said at a press conference Sunday. Gina Martinez, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2022 The officers stopped the car and learned that its driver, a Cleveland man, 28, was wanted by Maple Heights police for committing a disorderly-conduct violation. cleveland, 30 July 2021 The bank’s new policy tool, the Transmission Protection Instrument, is intended to stop disorderly moves in government bond markets. New York Times, 21 July 2022 Officers were called to the intersection of Columbia Road and Washington Street in Dorchester at around 10 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a disorderly group aboard a bus, according to the statement. Camilo Fonseca, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2022 Prosecutors dismissed a felony charge of carrying a gun while intoxicated and a misdemeanor domestic disorderly charge. BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 As the exodus of government ministers continued into Thursday morning, Mr. Johnson was ultimately left with no choice but to announce that his often disorderly time in Downing Street, marked by frequent periods of crisis, was drawing to a close. New York Times, 8 July 2022 Those in violation of the curfew could be charged with a disorderly person’s offense and subject to penalties imposed by the Toms River Municipal Court. Julia Musto, Fox News, 16 June 2022 See More
Adjective
In Georgia, the inspectors said disorderly conditions could cause workers to slip, trip or be struck by objects. Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 15 Aug. 2022 Police were called to Main Street in the city's downtown to respond to reports of a disorderly crowd, Lt. Colonel Mike John of the Cincinnati Police Department said at a press conference Sunday. Gina Martinez, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2022 The officers stopped the car and learned that its driver, a Cleveland man, 28, was wanted by Maple Heights police for committing a disorderly-conduct violation. cleveland, 30 July 2021 The bank’s new policy tool, the Transmission Protection Instrument, is intended to stop disorderly moves in government bond markets. New York Times, 21 July 2022 Officers were called to the intersection of Columbia Road and Washington Street in Dorchester at around 10 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a disorderly group aboard a bus, according to the statement. Camilo Fonseca, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2022 Prosecutors dismissed a felony charge of carrying a gun while intoxicated and a misdemeanor domestic disorderly charge. BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 As the exodus of government ministers continued into Thursday morning, Mr. Johnson was ultimately left with no choice but to announce that his often disorderly time in Downing Street, marked by frequent periods of crisis, was drawing to a close. New York Times, 8 July 2022 Those in violation of the curfew could be charged with a disorderly person’s offense and subject to penalties imposed by the Toms River Municipal Court. Julia Musto, Fox News, 16 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adverb
1560, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing disorderly
Kids Definition
disorderly
adjective
dis·or·der·ly dis-ˈȯr-dər-lē
1
: not behaving quietly or well : unruly
disorderly students
2
: not neat or orderly
a disorderly desk
disorderly
adjective
1
as in anarchic
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority disorderly mobs roamed the streets after the fall of the city Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- anarchic
- criminal
- anarchical
- rebellious
- unruly
- lawless
- illegal
- lawbreaking
- undisciplined
- mutinous
- defiant
- riotous
- unlawful
- insubordinate
- illicit
- felonious
- wrongful
- disobedient
- refractory
- illegitimate
- recalcitrant
- intractable
- froward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- orderly
- lawful
- legal
- legitimate
- law-abiding
- legalized
- obedient
- docile
- compliant
- tractable
- submissive
- amenable
2
as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness disorderly piles of clothes on various tables about the room Synonyms & Similar Words
- chaotic
- messy
- confused
- littered
- cluttered
- disordered
- filthy
- jumbled
- sloppy
- messed
- untidy
- disheveled
- dirty
- unkempt
- disarrayed
- disarranged
- tangled
- shaggy
- muddled
- tumbled
- rumpled
- tousled
- wrinkled
- mussed
- stained
- dishevelled
- mussy
- higgledy-piggledy
- nasty
- topsy-turvy
- hugger-mugger
- slovenly
- pell-mell
- unclean
- squalid
- uncleanly
- out of joint
- knotted
- blackened
- upside-down
- sloven
- slatternly
- dingy
- soiled
- grimy
- uncombed
- spotted
- polluted
- bedraggled
- foul
- grungy
- smudged
- sullied
- grubby
- at sixes and sevens
- befouled
- draggled
- contaminated
- mucky
- frowsy
- begrimed
- besmirched
- dowdy
- negligent
- sordid
- neglectful
- neglected
- snarled
- grotty
- defiled
- shabby
- cruddy
- frowzy
- adulterated
- tainted
- seedy
- bemired
- sleazy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- orderly
- organized
- neat
- tidy
- systematic
- uncluttered
- kempt
- clean
- crisp
- ordered
- trim
- shipshape
- cleaned
- regular
- hygienic
- sparkling
- spotless
- immaculate
- unsullied
- unsoiled
- methodical
- cleanly
- stainless
- snug
- well-ordered
- antiseptic
- careful
- systematized
- methodic
- meticulous
- tidied
- fussy
- finicky
- fastidious
- bandbox
- neatened
- spic-and-span
- spick-and-span
- wholesome
- manicured
- unpolluted
- groomed
- combed
- untainted
- undefiled
- well-groomed
- taintless
Phrases Containing disorderly
- golgi substance
- Golgi's organ
- golgotha
- golgothae
- golgothas
- goliard
- goliardic
- goliards
- Goliath
- goliath
- goliath beetle
- goliath bird spider
- goliath bird spiders
- goliath bird-eating spider
- goliath bird-eating spiders
- goliath birdeater
- goliath birdeaters
- goliath crane
- goliath frog
- goliath grouper
- goliath heron
- goliathise
- goliathised
- goliathises
- goliathising