rebellious

adjective

re·​bel·​lious ri-ˈbel-yəs How to pronounce rebellious (audio)
1
a
: given to or engaged in rebellion
rebellious troops
b
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a rebel or rebellion
a rebellious speech
2
: resisting treatment or management : refractory
rebelliously adverb
rebelliousness noun

Examples of rebellious in a Sentence

the rebellious troops fought a pitched battle with divisions still loyal to the government expected her son to grow a little more rebellious as he got older, but she knew he understood when to kick and when to obey
Recent Examples on the Web Maryland soldiers were assigned to Lord Stirling’s brigade on Long Island in defense of Brooklyn, while a massive armada of ships weighed anchor off shore with the most powerful army in the world preparing to crush the rebellious citizen soldiers, who were defying the king’s rule. Christopher Eric Bouchat, Baltimore Sun, 4 July 2024 This could also strain your sense of authority, but a rebellious Mars-Uranus conjunction in your sign on July 15 inspires you to assert your independence by any means necessary. Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 3 July 2024 Still haunted by Beetlejuice (Keaton), Lydia’s (Ryder) life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid (Ortega), discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 2 July 2024 Curated by Honey Dijon, the jukebox features songs that capture the rebellious spirit and collective joy of the Stonewall community. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for rebellious 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rebellious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rebellious was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near rebellious

Cite this Entry

“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebellious. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

rebellious

adjective
re·​bel·​lious ri-ˈbel-yəs How to pronounce rebellious (audio)
1
: taking part in rebellion
2
: tending to fight against or disobey authority
rebelliously adverb
rebelliousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rebellious

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