rebellious

/ri'beljəs/

Thân thiện

A teenager expresses a rebellious attitude by painting graffiti on a wall.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Resisting or defying authority, control, or convention: Describes a person, group, or attitude that actively opposes or fights against established rules, government, or social norms.
   • Difficult to manage or control: Can describe something (like hair) or someone (especially a child) that is unmanageable or unruly.

Examples of Usage

• Resisting authority:
  • The rebellious soldiers refused to follow the general's orders.
  • She has a rebellious spirit and questions all the rules.
• Difficult to control:
  • He tried to comb his rebellious hair into place.
  • The teacher found the rebellious child hard to handle.

Advanced Usage

• "rebellious streak": a tendency or inclination to be rebellious.
  • Despite his calm exterior, he has a strong rebellious streak.
• "rebellious phase": a period, often in adolescence, characterized by defiance.
  • Many teenagers go through a rebellious phase.

Variants and Related Words

• Rebel (noun/verb): A person who rebels; to act as a rebel.
  • He was a rebel against the system.
  • The citizens began to rebel against the tax.
• Rebellion (noun): An act of rebelling; open resistance.
  • The government crushed the rebellion.
• Rebelliously (adverb): In a rebellious manner.
  • She stared rebelliously at her parents.

Synonyms

• Defiant: Showing open resistance or bold disobedience.
• Insubordinate: Not submitting to authority; disobedient.
• Unruly: Disorderly and disruptive; not easily controlled.
• Mutinous: Refusing to obey the orders of a person in authority (especially in a military context).

Antonyms

• Obedient: Complying with commands or authority.
• Submissive: Ready to conform to authority; meek.
• Compliant: Inclined to agree with or follow rules.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A rebellious nature: An inherent tendency to resist control.
  • His rebellious nature often got him into trouble at school.
• To sow rebellious thoughts: To encourage or instill ideas of rebellion.
  • The pamphlet aimed to sow rebellious thoughts among the populace.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. participating in organized resistance to a constituted government
   • the rebelling confederacy
2. discontented as toward authority
3. resisting control or authority
   • temperamentally rebellious
   • a rebellious crew

Từ đồng nghĩa

• disaffected
• ill-affected
• malcontent