disobey
verb
dis·obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā 
-ō-
disobeyed; disobeying; disobeys
intransitive verb
: to be disobedient
transitive verb
: to fail to obey
disobeyer noun
Synonyms
- defy
- mock
- rebel (against)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Such a position would give carte blanche to question or disobey anything and everything that is unpleasant, the theory goes. 
Amy Kellogg, Fox News, 25 July 2022 The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police has refused to cooperate, with President John Catanzara repeatedly urging members to disobey the city until a Cook County judge issued a temporary restraining order barring him from such public statements. Gregory Pratt, chicagotribune.com, 21 Oct. 2021 To disobey him was to lose everything, especially the relationships that mattered most. Lindsay Hansen Park, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2022 His crime was to disobey orders to shut shops early and close hospitals to protesters during demonstrations against the arrest of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then an outsider to political power. Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2022 No, choosing to disobey the narrator is one of the most fun things to do in both the original Stanley Parable and this new follow-up. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 27 Apr. 2022 King writes in the caption accompanying the post that he was arrested for mischief, counseling to commit mischief, counseling to commit obstructing a police officer and counseling to disobey court orders. Dom Calicchio, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2022 The city ultimately tossed its challenge, though not before one judge put a temporary restraining order on Catanzara, forbidding him from making public comments encouraging his members to disobey the city’s vaccination rules. Paige Fry, chicagotribune.com, 13 Apr. 2022 Tesla is recalling 54,000 vehicles that may disobey stop signs. Nick Canepa Columnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2022 See More
Amy Kellogg, Fox News, 25 July 2022 The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police has refused to cooperate, with President John Catanzara repeatedly urging members to disobey the city until a Cook County judge issued a temporary restraining order barring him from such public statements. Gregory Pratt, chicagotribune.com, 21 Oct. 2021 To disobey him was to lose everything, especially the relationships that mattered most. Lindsay Hansen Park, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2022 His crime was to disobey orders to shut shops early and close hospitals to protesters during demonstrations against the arrest of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then an outsider to political power. Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2022 No, choosing to disobey the narrator is one of the most fun things to do in both the original Stanley Parable and this new follow-up. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 27 Apr. 2022 King writes in the caption accompanying the post that he was arrested for mischief, counseling to commit mischief, counseling to commit obstructing a police officer and counseling to disobey court orders. Dom Calicchio, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2022 The city ultimately tossed its challenge, though not before one judge put a temporary restraining order on Catanzara, forbidding him from making public comments encouraging his members to disobey the city’s vaccination rules. Paige Fry, chicagotribune.com, 13 Apr. 2022 Tesla is recalling 54,000 vehicles that may disobey stop signs. Nick Canepa Columnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
disobey
verb
dis·obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā
disobeyed; disobeying
: to refuse or fail to behave as told or taught He disobeyed his parents.
disobeys
verb
as in ignores
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ignores
- violates
- defies
- mocks
- resists
- opposes
- dismisses
- rejects
- disregards
- fights
- flouts
- transgresses
- scorns
- rebels (against)
- overlooks
- withstands
- breaches
- breaks
- infringes
- passes over
- disobliges
- disputes
- shrugs off
- combats
- tunes out
- pooh-poohs
- contests
- mutinies (against)
- overpasses
- revolts (against)
- bucks
- poohs
- scoffs (at)
- brushes (off)
- winks (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obeys
- follows
- conforms (to)
- serves
- complies (with)
- yields (to)
- submits (to)
- minds
- surrenders (to)
- defers (to)
- concedes (to)
- stoops (to)
- observes
- keeps
- cooperates (with)
- capitulates (to)
- obliges
- agrees (to)
- hears
- notices
- heeds
- goose-steps (to)
- attends
- accedes (to)
- assents (to)
- acquiesces (to)
- regards
- watches
- listens (to)
- marks
- notes