adj

unruly

uhn-ROO-lee

Unruly (adj) means Difficult to control or discipline; disorderly or badly behaved. Example: “The teacher struggled to calm the unruly classroom.”

adj

Difficult to control or discipline; disorderly or badly behaved.

"The teacher struggled to calm the unruly classroom."

"Airline staff removed the unruly passenger from the flight."

How to use unruly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHard to control, whether describing people, crowds, or even hair.

Common pairings

unruly mob unruly hair unruly behaviour unruly passenger

Word forms

unrulier comparative, unruliest superlative

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The teacher struggled to calm the _____ classroom.

Etymology

From Middle English unruly, from un- plus rule plus -ly — literally "not following rule."

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for unruly

July duly truly Pauly unduly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “unruly” mean?

The word “unruly” means difficult to control or discipline; disorderly or badly behaved. In plain terms, hard to control, whether describing people, crowds, or even hair.

How do you pronounce “unruly”?

“Unruly” is pronounced uhn-ROO-lee (/ʌnˈɹuːli/ in IPA).

How do you use “unruly” in a sentence?

Here is “unruly” used in a sentence: “The teacher struggled to calm the unruly classroom.”

What part of speech is “unruly”?

“Unruly” is an adjective.

Where does the word “unruly” come from?

The word “unruly” comes from Middle English. From Middle English unruly, from un- plus rule plus -ly — literally "not following rule.".