unruly
adjective /ʌnˈruːli/
/ʌnˈruːli/
- difficult to control or manage synonym disorderly
- an unruly class
- unruly behaviour
- unruly hair (= difficult to keep looking neat)
- He struggled hard to control his unruly emotions.
- The police were attacked by an unruly mob.
- There have been complaints about her unruly behaviour.
Oxford Collocations DictionaryUnruly is used with these nouns:- child
- curl
- hair
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: from un- ‘not’ + archaic ruly ‘easy to discipline or order’ (from rule).