ungovernable

un·gov·ern·able

adj \-ˈgə-vər-nə-bəl\

Definition of UNGOVERNABLE

: not capable of being governed, guided, or restrained

Examples of UNGOVERNABLE

1. The people there seemed almost ungovernable.
2. <a handful of ungovernable students are disrupting the learning environment for everyone else>

First Known Use of UNGOVERNABLE

1673

Related to UNGOVERNABLE

Synonyms: balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, refractory, restive, disobedient, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)

Antonyms: amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable

Related Words: noncooperative, uncooperative; insurgent, mutinous; adamant, adamantine, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, negativistic, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding; fractious, restive, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild; perverse, resistant, wrongheaded; bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, monkeying, monkeyish, naughty; undisciplined; dissident, nonconformist; discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly

Near Antonyms: acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging; yielding; behaved, disciplined, well-bred; courteous, polite, respectful; kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient; decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper; controllable, governable, manageable, trainable

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

See Synonym Discussion at unruly