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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishHard to control, whether describing people, crowds, or even hair.
Common pairings
unruly mob
unruly hair
unruly behaviour
unruly passenger
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Word forms
- Comparative
- unrulier
- Superlative
- unruliest
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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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for unruly
See all rhymes for 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.".
