unobeyed

The teacher's instruction remained unobeyed by the inattentive class.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not followed or complied with: "unobeyed" describes a command, rule, or instruction that has not been obeyed or adhered to by the intended person or group.
   • Disregarded: It refers to something that has been ignored or not carried out as required.

Usage Examples

• (The students did not follow the teacher's directions.)
• (The commands were not carried out by the soldiers.)
• (The sign's prohibition was ignored.)

Advanced Usage

• "to go unobeyed": to remain not followed or respected.
  • The law goes unobeyed in many rural areas where enforcement is weak. (The law is not complied with in those regions.)
• "to leave unobeyed": to cause something to remain disregarded.
  • He left the king's decree unobeyed, risking severe punishment. (He did not follow the royal command.)

Variants and Related Words

• Unobeying (adj): not obeying; refusing to comply.
  • The unobeying child was sent to time-out. (The child refused to obey.)
• Unobedience (n, rare): the state of not obeying; disobedience.
  • His unobedience to the rules resulted in expulsion. (His refusal to follow rules had consequences.)
• Obey (v): to comply with a command or instruction.
  • Soldiers must obey their commander without question. (They must follow orders.)

Synonyms

• Disobeyed: not followed as commanded.
• Ignored: deliberately not paid attention to.
• Defied: openly resisted or refused to obey.
• Flouted: treated with contemptuous disregard.

Related Idioms

• Fall on deaf ears: to be ignored or not listened to.
  • His pleas for help fell on deaf ears, and his request went unobeyed. (No one responded to his plea.)
• Go in one ear and out the other: to be heard but immediately forgotten or disregarded.
  • The safety instructions went in one ear and out the other, leaving them unobeyed. (The instructions were not followed.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Obey by: to comply with (a rule or person). (Note: "unobeyed" is not used in phrasal verbs, but its root "obey" is.)
  • The citizens must obey by the new regulations. (They must follow the regulations.)