obedience

noun

ō-ˈbē-dē-ən(t)s How to pronounce obedience (audio)
Definition of obediencenext
1
as in submission
a bending to the authority or control of another the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits

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2
as in submissiveness
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command

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3
as in adherence
the following of a custom, rule, or law expectations of strict obedience to the guidelines were soon dashed

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Example Sentences

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 obedience In China, Xi is trying to bend technology toward obedience and growth. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Catherine Coldstream entered a Carmelite monastery at age 24, and lived a life of prayer and obedience for 12 years. — Terry Gross, NPR, 24 July 2026 The story follows two genetically identical women who switch identities and consequently expose a hierarchical world based on genetic selection, exploitation and obedience. — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 7 July 2026 Its blinding concentration is awed into submission or obedience. — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for obedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obedience
  1. submission
  2. submissiveness
  3. adherence
  4. compliance
  5. acquiescence
  6. conformity
  7. surrender
  8. docility
Noun
  • Data from the missions are expected to help establish the testing and documentation needed for future regulatory submissions.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Building on this recognition, the winner of the Busan Award – Best Film, the top prize in BIFF’s Competition section, now qualifies for submission to the Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of submission
Noun
  • Attraction is a function of parentage and looks and submissiveness.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
  • But for Coles, his indoctrination to law enforcement has been a different level of submissiveness.
    — Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Definition of submissiveness
Noun
  • Members may appeal the presiding officer’s ruling, but, given a commitment to nonpartisan conduct and adherence to precedent, in practice the parliamentarian’s advice carries significant weight and is generally considered final.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Better adherence and earlier intervention can help prevent costly complications that drive healthcare spending, including hospitalizations, emergency-room visits and disease progression.
    — Joel Zive, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of adherence
Noun
  • The state agency oversees the facility’s air and water quality permits and compliance with environmental waste laws.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Taxpayers may qualify for relief due to a good compliance history, reasonable cause, or a statutory exception.
    — Jamela Adam, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of compliance
Noun
  • Oil has long funded the Gulf’s expensive social contract, in which governments provide citizens with cushy jobs and high-quality services in return for political acquiescence.
    — Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
  • With Taiwan’s 2028 elections approaching, sustained American support strengthens voices favoring self-defense over acquiescence to Beijing.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of acquiescence
Noun
  • Anyone could guess going into this album that Erykah’s sticking points are groupthink, conformity, and phone obsession.
    — Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Jones made rejection her trademark, rebelling against conformity and embracing an image and music that pushed boundaries and refused labels.
    — Lisa Whittington-Hill, Longreads, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of conformity
Noun
  • On June 7, 1945, following Germany’s surrender to the allies in World War Two, Harald, aged 8, returned to Norway with the rest of the royal family and was welcomed by thousands of people on the streets of the capital, Oslo.
    — James Frater, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The capitulation of Germany is at hand, the Third Reich's unconditional surrender just days away.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of surrender
Noun
  • Carlson-Wee introduces himself to Wood with the sweet docility of a young boy meeting his hero.
    — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
  • The same goes for docility, often characterized as a near neighbor of meekness.
    — Timothy J. Pawl, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
Definition of docility

Browse Nearby Words

obdurateness
obedience
obediences
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Cite this Entry

“Obedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obedience. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on obedience

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obedience

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