Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Not submissive to authority.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Not subordinate or submissive; not submitting to authority; refractory.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Not submitting to authority; disobedient; rebellious; mutinous.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective rebellious or defiant to authority
  • adjective contumacious

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective not submissive to authority
  • adjective disposed to or engaged in defiance of established authority

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word insubordinate.

Examples

  • ” Decidedly, he was not afraid to be what club men call insubordinate, though, of all insubordinates, the club men are the worst.

    The End of General Gordon: Paras. 67-99 1918

  • I guess being "insubordinate" was a job requirement for the new position.

    Big Labor-Backed Group To Unleash Massive Mail Blitz In Swing States Tying McCain To Bush 2009

  • Troopergate was about a dangerous renegade brother-in-law; Walt Monegan was "insubordinate;" Charlie Gibson's interview was full of "gotcha" questions; Katie Couric was just mean and condescending; the shouts of "kill him" and "terrorist" at her rallies were the fault of Bill Ayers; Wardrobegate was the fault of the McCain Campaign; losing the election wasn't her fault, it was George W. Bush and the economy.

    Shannyn Moore: Gobble Gobblegate 2008

  • I guess being "insubordinate" was a job requirement for the new position.

    Les Gara: Round 2 Of McCain Troopergate Stall: Part Karl Rove, Part Laurel & Hardy 2008

  • Instead, Naffe was told she was being "insubordinate" and "not a team player."

    Archive 2004-08-01 2004

  • According to reports, both employees were being "insubordinate" and their firing coincided with the arrival of some "bouncer types" on the Infinity Ward campus.

    ShoutWire.com quincy0191 2010

  • London on October 1, 2009, that have supposedly angered the White House and are leading to accusations that he has been "insubordinate" and has "not followed the chain of command."

    WN.com - Articles related to Summary Box: Drop in home sales hurts stock market 2010

  • London on October 1, 2009, that have supposedly angered the White House and are leading to accusations that he has been "insubordinate" and has "not followed the chain of command."

    WN.com - Photown News 2010

  • London on October 1, 2009, that have supposedly angered the White House and are leading to accusations that he has been "insubordinate" and has "not followed the chain of command."

    WN.com - Photown News 2010

  • London on October 1, 2009, that have supposedly angered the White House and are leading to accusations that he has been "insubordinate" and has "not followed the chain of command."

    WN.com - Photown News 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • This word was used a lot in the "Star Trek" episodes.

    September 1, 2012