rebellious
rebellious Lexical Profile
rebellious Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Showing a desire to resist authority, control, or convention.
"During his teenage years, he went through a rebellious phase and questioned every household rule."
Engaged in or characteristic of armed resistance or open uprising against an established government or ruler.
"The royal governor dispatched troops to pacify the rebellious provinces along the northern frontier."
Difficult to control, manage, or treat (typically of an object, physical trait, or condition).
"She used a pair of pins to tuck back a few rebellious curls before stepping onto the stage."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 15th century from 'rebellion' plus the suffix '-ous', ultimately tracing back to the Latin verb 'rebellare', meaning 'to wage war again' (from 're-' meaning 'against' and 'bellum' meaning 'war').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.