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View synonyms for

rebellious

[ ri-bel-yuhs ]

adjective

  1. defying or resisting some established authority, government, or tradition; insubordinate; inclined to rebel.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , ,

  2. pertaining to or characteristic of rebels or rebellion.
  3. (of things) resisting treatment; refractory.


rebellious

/ ɪˈɛə /

adjective

  1. showing a tendency towards rebellion
  2. (of a problem, etc) difficult to overcome; refractory
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈdzܲԱ, noun
  • ˈdzܲ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • ·ldzܲ· adverb
  • ·ldzܲ·Ա noun
  • 󲹱-·ldzܲ adjective
  • half-·ldzܲ· adverb
  • half-·ldzܲ·Ա noun
  • ԴDzr·ldzܲ adjective
  • non·ldzܲ· adverb
  • non·ldzܲ·Ա noun
  • ܲȴ-·ldzܲ adjective
  • quasi-·ldzܲ· adverb
  • i··ldzܲ adjective
  • semi··ldzܲ· adverb
  • semi··ldzܲ·Ա noun
  • ܲr·ldzܲ adjective
  • un·ldzܲ· adverb
  • un·ldzܲ·Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rebellious1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin ōܲ, from Latin (ō) “war renewal, revolt” ( rebellion ) + -ōܲ -ous
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

None of them - including Kelly Rowland, who moved in with the family - were very rebellious, she says.

From

“Even right now, everything with the young males being taught these super conservative ways, at least in America: everything is shifting with this rebellious, hyper-masculine thing,” he told Paper.

From

In the 20th century, Presidents Kennedy and Johnson each used it three times, most often to protect the civil rights of Black Americans against “rebellious” segregationists.

From

A theatrical production about the rebellious, unofficial England side that competed in the 1971 Women's World Cup was "coming home", its playwright said.

From

They, too, pretend to be some kind of rebellious, anti-globalist resistance, fighting the evil Western empire, reclaiming sovereignty, rejecting the corrupt elites.

From

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More About Rebellious

doesrebellious mean?

Rebellious is an adjective that describes someone who resists or defies rules.

Someone who acts in such a way can be called a rebel. However, the word rebel can also be used to refer to a revolutionary trying to overthrow a government. Such actions can be described as rebellious, but rebellious is much more commonly used to describe people or actions that break the rules, resist authority, or otherwise challenge the status quo. It’s especially applied to teenagers who act this way.

The noun rebelliousness refers to such behavior. The noun rebellion can refer to this, but it’s also used to refer to an attempt to overthrow a government (rebelliousness isn’t typically used this way.)

Example: Danielle was labeled rebellious for refusing to wear her uniform to school.

Where doesrebellious come from?

The first records of the word rebellious come from the 1400s. It and related words, like rebel and rebellion, are derived from the Latin bell(um), which means “war” and is also the root of war-related words like antebellum, belligerent, and bellicose.

In general, rebellious can be used to describe anyone who challenges the established rules or the way things are. Rebellious people reject the status quo and instead play by their own rules, regardless of society’s restrictions or expectations. Teenagers who push against the boundaries set by their parents are often described as rebellious. The 1955 movie Rebel Without a Cause helped to romanticize and popularize the character of the angsty rebellious teen, played in the movie by James Dean.

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How isrebellious used in real life?

Rebellious is most commonly applied to teenagers testing their boundaries by defying their parents.

Try usingrebellious!

Is rebellious used correctly in the following sentence?

He was praised as rebellious for his unquestioning acceptance of the rules.

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