obedience

obe·di·ence

noun \ō-ˈbē-dē-ən(t)s, ə-\

Definition of OBEDIENCE

1

a : an act or instance of obeying b : the quality or state of being obedient

2

: a sphere of jurisdiction; especially : an ecclesiastical or sometimes secular dominion

Examples of OBEDIENCE

1. <the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits>
2. <the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command>

First Known Use of OBEDIENCE

13th century

Related to OBEDIENCE

Synonyms: compliance, conformity, submission, subordination

Antonyms: balkiness, contrariness, contumacy, defiance, disobedience, frowardness, insubordination, intractability, noncompliance, obstreperousness, rebelling, rebellion, rebelliousness, recalcitrance, refractoriness, self-will, unruliness, waywardness, willfulness

Related Words: abidance, agreeability, amenability, teachableness, tractability, tractableness, trainability; acquiescence, capitulation, obeisance, obsequiousness, submissiveness, surrender, yielding; deference, docility, dutifulness, humility, meekness, modesty, servility, slavishness, subordinateness, subservience, subserviency; inhibition, repression, restraint, suppression; control, discipline, dutifulness, order

Near Antonyms: noncooperation, recusancy; disrespect, impudence, insolence, rudeness; insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, outbreak, revolt; hardheadedness, mulishness, mutinousness, obstinacy, obstinateness, perversity, pigheadedness, stubbornness; misbehavior, mischievousness, naughtiness; dissent, dissidence

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