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View synonyms for insubordinate

insubordinate

[ in-suh-bawr-dn-it ]

adjective

  1. not submitting to authority; disobedient:

    an insubordinate soldier.

    Synonyms: insolent, defiant, refractory

  2. not lower.


noun

  1. a person who is insubordinate.

insubordinate

/ ˌɪnsəˈbɔːdɪnɪt /

adjective

  1. not submissive to authority; disobedient or rebellious
  2. not in a subordinate position or rank
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. an insubordinate person
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌinsubˈordinately, adverb
  • ˌinsubˌordiˈnation, noun
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Other Words From

  • insub·ordi·nate·ly adverb
  • insub·ordi·nation noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of insubordinate1

First recorded in 1840–50; in- 3 + subordinate
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Example Sentences

If any orphan admitted to the school should be incompetent to learn, or master a trade … or become insubordinate, or guilty of vice or crime … or become an unfit companion for the others … he may be removed or expelled.

Of course, if the message still isn’t getting through, there may be a bigger issue at play, either with your boss struggling to assert her authority or your insubordinate peer failing to recognize it.

Not a spoiler, but next week Maggie says something to Will that even she acknowledges is “inappropriate” and “insubordinate.”

The sisters took advantage of the scandal she had caused to act in an insubordinate way towards her.

Drunk or sober, they were constantly insubordinate, setting a bad example to the crew, and quarrelling with each other.

"Pull yourself together, dear old officer," said Bones, raising his voice to an insubordinate pitch.

William Moore was an insubordinate gunner; after an altercation, Kidd hit him on the head with a bucket, and he died.

An insubordinate clergy and a dissolute populace quickly felt the hand that now held the reins.

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in styleinsubordination