unruly
8 synonyms and 1 antonym for unruly, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Difficult to control or discipline; disorderly or badly behaved.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use unruly
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
unruly mob
unruly hair
unruly behaviour
unruly passenger
Etymology
From Middle English unruly, from un- plus rule plus -ly — literally "not following rule."
Full origin of unruly →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.".
