Skip to content

Unruly Definition & Meaning

unruly
adjective
  1. noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline; "a boisterous crowd"; "a social gathering that became rambunctious and out of hand"; "a robustious group of teenagers"; "beneath the rumbustious surface of his paintings is sympathy for the vulnerability of ordinary human beings"; "an unruly class"
  2. unwilling to submit to authority; "unruly teenagers"
  3. of persons; "the little boy's parents think he is spirited, but his teacher finds him unruly"

"Unruly" in song lyrics

See how unruly is used in real songs:

  • "But people nowadays be acting unruly"
    Choclair — Twenty One Years
  • "Wit hands on my soul, I'm bold but not unruly"
    Cyne — Arrow of God
  • "Really crazy uptight, actin unruly"
    DJ Cosm f/ Moka Only, Teekay — Day That's New

Usage tips for "unruly"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "unruly" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for unruly to find words that pair well.

Use "unruly" in a verse

Now that you know what "unruly" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

Frequently asked questions

What does unruly mean?
noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline; "a boisterous crowd"; "a social gathering that became rambunctious and out of hand"; "a robustious group of teenagers"; "beneath the rumbustious surface of his paintings is sympathy for the vulnerability of ordinary human beings"; "an unruly class" unwilling to submit to authority; "unruly teenagers" of persons; "the little boy's parents think he is spirited, but his teacher finds him unruly"
What part of speech is unruly?
Unruly is an adjective.
How many definitions does unruly have?
Unruly has 3 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

Look up another word