unruly

[ uhn-roo-lee ]

adjective

, un·ru·li·er, un·ru·li·est.

1. not submissive or conforming to rule; ungovernable; turbulent; intractable; refractory; lawless:

   an unruly class; an unruly wilderness.

   Synonyms: unmanageable, riotous, disorderly, stubborn, uncontrollable, disobedient

unruly

/ ʌnˈruːlɪ /

adjective

1. disposed to disobedience or indiscipline

Derived Forms

• unˈruliness, noun

Other Words From

• un·ruli·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unruly¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English unruely, equivalent to un- un- ¹ + ruly, ruely “governable, controllable”; rule, -y ¹

Synonym Study

Unruly, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory describe persons or things that resist management or control. Unruly suggests persistently disorderly behavior or character in persons or things: an unruly child, peevish and willful; wild, unruly hair. Intractable suggests in persons a determined resistance to all attempts to guide or direct them, in things a refusal to respond to attempts to shape, improve, or modify them: an intractable social rebel; a seemingly intractable problem in logistics. recalcitrant and refractory imply not only a lack of submissiveness but also an open, often violent, rebellion against authority or direction. Recalcitrant, the stronger of the two terms, suggests a stubborn and absolute noncompliance: a recalcitrant person, openly contemptuous of all authority. Refractory implies active, mulish disobedience, but leaves open the possibility of eventual compliance: refractory students, resisting efforts to interest them in their studies.

Example Sentences

Trump campaigned in large part on the idea that cities have become chaotic and unruly and that he could impose more order by cracking down on homeless encampments and open drug use.

From Los Angeles Times

Grown men and women — Labubu’s core customers are adults, not kids — have fought over her and police recently had to manage an unruly crowd at a Singapore toy show where Labubus were being sold.

From Los Angeles Times

Airlines have been besieged by unruly passengers this year, the FAA said, citing roughly 1,700 incidents to date.

From Los Angeles Times

It has not been an absolute given that all Budget measures will actually be enacted by a rebellious and unruly governing party.

From BBC

"If I had behaved I would have stayed at the top, but I was too unruly."

From BBC

Related Words

• disorderly
• drunken
• fractious
• impulsive
• lawless
• ornery
• quarrelsome
• rebellious
• recalcitrant
• reckless
• restive
• riotous
• rowdy
• turbulent
• uncontrollable
• unmanageable
• violent
• wayward