DISOBEYING Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

disobeying

verb

present participle of disobey

as in ignoring

to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of students who disobey their teachers and use cell phones in class drivers who consistently disobey traffic laws

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of disobeying Cops had issued summonses to the driver twice before, once in 2024 for failing to yield to a pedestrian and in 2018 for disobeying a traffic device, officials said. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 The violations are disobeying orders and conduct unbecoming an officer. — Charlie D'agata, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Santana-Mateo was booked on charges of breach of peace, engaging police in a pursuit, disobeying the direction of officer, reckless driving, failure to obey a stop sign, failure to drive right, failure to obey a traffic control signal and driving the wrong way on a one way. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026 Icarus disobeying his father Daedalus and flying too close to the sun. — Literary Hub, 26 May 2026 He was cited with disobeying a traffic control device, not having proof of insurance and obstructing a police officer. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2026 Saulter was being investigated for allegedly falsifying time sheets, disobeying a direct order and failing to report part-time employment properly. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026 Authorities last August removed Dodik from the post of the president and temporarily banned him from politics for disobeying Schmidt's decisions. — ABC News, 11 May 2026 Trump had to relent on a scheme to prosecute Fed Chair Jerome Powell for disobeying White House commands to cut interest rates. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disobeying

Verb

Isaac Gonzalez, a traffic safety advocate and founder of Slow Down Sacramento, said roads like Valley Hi Drive were built wide and open, which can lead to drivers ignoring speed limits.

— Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Republicans stripped away key delaying tactics in recent years by ending the filibuster in 2017 and ignoring the Judiciary Committee’s quorum rules in 2020.

— The Conversation, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of ignoring

Verb

In the letter, Omar's attorneys accused the Justice Department of violating longstanding agency policy designed to avoid potentially influencing an election.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
He was arrested again a week later after violating a protection order by trying to contact the woman, according to the arrest affidavit.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of violating

Verb

This process included buying a physics-defying piece of furniture that without aid of magic could toggle between both a bed and sofa — something called a futon.

— Blake J. Harris, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
In July, Iran sent a commercial plane to carry a Houthi delegation to Khamenei’s funeral in Tehran, defying a Saudi air blockade of Yemen.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of defying

Verb

Reels captured everything from dancing and DJ parties at protest sites to songs mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

— Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
At this point in the shoot, the host segments that serve as interstitials for the movie mocking that made the original a success have all been filmed.

— Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of mocking

Verb

At the Homo Faber craft festival in Venice this past September, one such work—its mouth opening up like a blooming flower—had onlookers resisting the urge to touch it.

— Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026
Ukraine's Eastern European neighbors such as Poland and Romania are resisting a push to allow grain to transit through them — even temporarily — due to concerns about a glut destroying demand for their own crops.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of resisting

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disobeyed

disobeying

disobeys

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“Disobeying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disobeying. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of disobeying

verb

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