unruly

[uhn-roo-lee]

adjective

unrulier, unruliest 

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

   an unruly class; an unruly wilderness.

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

unruly

/ ʌnˈruːlɪ /

adjective

1. disposed to disobedience or indiscipline

Other Word Forms

• unruliness 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

As part of the settlement, they must tell all guests that loud and unruly parties are prohibited.

From Los Angeles Times

"They were giving out beatings daily, well for me anyway, because I was unruly."

From BBC

His first job as an actor was in Martin McDonagh’s unruly black comedy “The Lieutenant of Inishmore,” with a plot that hinges on a mangled cat.

From Los Angeles Times

An earlier investigation into the facility revealed that officers had made “sport” of tormenting mentally ill inmates, including forcing inmates into a specially rigged, scalding hot shower as punishment for unruly behavior.

From Salon

"The failure by Hichilema to rein in on the unruly conduct of his officials and supporters has fed public perception that the president approves of such conduct and consequently heightened divisions."

From BBC

Related Words

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