unruly Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
    rambunctious; rumbustious; robustious; boisterous.
    • 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. adjective satellite unwilling to submit to authority
    disobedient.
    • unruly teenagers
  3. adjective satellite of persons
    indocile; ungovernable; uncontrollable.
    • the little boy's parents think he is spirited, but his teacher finds him unruly

WordNet

Un*rul"y adjective
Etymology
Pref. un- not + rule. Cf. Ruly.
Wordforms
comparative Unrulier superlative Unruliest
Definitions
  1. Not submissive to rule; disregarding restraint; disposed to violate; turbulent; ungovernable; refractory; as, an unruly boy; unruly boy; unruly conduct.
    But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James iii. 8.

Webster 1913