disobey

verb

dis·​obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā How to pronounce disobey (audio)
-ō-
disobeyed; disobeying; disobeys

transitive verb

: to fail to obey
disobeyer noun

Examples of disobey in a Sentence

If you disobey, you will be severely punished. The soldier disobeyed the general's orders. He was afraid to disobey his father. The driver had disobeyed the law.
Recent Examples on the Web New Hampshire disobeyed the DNC by scheduling its Democratic primary before the other 49 states (the DNC previously announced that South Carolina was chosen to be the first Democratic primary-voting state in 2024). Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 23 Jan. 2024 Unfortunately, in some cases, children can be cited with curfew violations without intending to break the law or disobey their parents. Eshaan Sarup, The Arizona Republic, 13 Jan. 2024 Last summer, she was fined by a Swedish court for disobeying police and blocking traffic during an environmental protest at an oil facility. TIME, 2 Feb. 2024 The Supreme Court responded forcefully in Cooper vs. Aaron, holding that states have no right to disobey federal court orders in an opinion signed by all nine justices. Erwin Chemerinsky, The Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2024 On June 20, Dean Hoffmann was placed in administrative housing — also known as solitary confinement or segregation — for disobeying orders and refusing to lock up in his cell, records show. Journal Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2024 And, if Trump did manage to get sworn in, there could be continuing foment about his Section 3 disqualification that might cause officials to refuse to recognize his Presidency and disobey his orders. Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2024 Karren found that Oesterle willfully disobeyed and failed to comply with the court's orders. Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2023 For months last year, demonstrators risked, and sometimes lost, their lives to protest the regime’s punishment of women for disobeying strict headscarf rules. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disobey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French desobeir, from des- dis- + obeir to obey

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of disobey was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near disobey

Cite this Entry

“Disobey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disobey. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

disobey

verb
dis·​obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā How to pronounce disobey (audio)
: to refuse, neglect, or fail to obey

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