Obedient vs Disobedient Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on obedient vs disobedient. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
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Adjective: following rules or orders.
“The obedient dog waited at the door.”
Adjective: refusing to follow rules or orders.
“The disobedient child ignored the sign.”
Noun: the act of following rules or orders.
“The class showed great obedience.”
Verb: to refuse to follow a rule or order.
“Soldiers must not disobey a lawful command.”
The obedient vs disobedient pair is easy to understand, because the two words are opposites. What trips people up is the spelling. Many writers type “obidient” or “disobdient” by mistake. Here is what each word means, how to spell it and how to use it.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| obedient | Willing to follow rules, orders or requests | Adjective | The obedient puppy sat when told. |
| disobedient | Refusing or failing to follow rules, orders or requests | Adjective | The disobedient teenager stayed out late. |
| obedience / disobedience | The act or habit of following (or not following) rules | Nouns | The school expects obedience to its rules. |
| obey / disobey | To follow (or refuse to follow) a rule or order | Verbs | Drivers must obey traffic signals. |
What does “obedient” mean?
Obedient is an adjective meaning willing to do what a rule, law or person in authority asks. It is often used for children, pets, soldiers and students.
For example: “The obedient dog waited for the command.” It comes from the Latin oboedire, which is built on audire, meaning “to hear.” The idea is that an obedient person listens and acts. It is pronounced uh-BEE-dee-unt.
What does “disobedient” mean?
Disobedient is an adjective meaning refusing or failing to follow rules, orders or requests. It is made from the prefix “dis-,” meaning “not,” plus obedient.
For example: “The disobedient student kept talking after the bell.” It is pronounced dis-uh-BEE-dee-unt. Related words include defiant, unruly and rebellious, though each has its own shade of meaning.
Are “obidient” and “disobdient” real words?
No, obidient and disobdient are misspellings. The correct spellings are obedient and disobedient. In both words, the second vowel is an “e,” as in the verb obey and the noun obedience.
Another common slip is “dissobedient,” with a double “s.” Only one “s” is needed, because “dis-” is attached to obedient.
Obedient vs disobedient: what is the main difference?
The main difference is whether someone follows the rule or not. Obedient describes someone who does follow it, and disobedient describes someone who does not. They are direct opposites.
Both words describe behavior toward a rule, an order or an authority. Neither one tells you whether the rule itself is fair or wise.
Is being obedient always a good thing?
Not always. Obedient can sound positive, as in an obedient pet, or negative, as in blind obedience to an unfair order. In the same way, disobedient can sound negative, as with a child ignoring safety rules, or neutral in cases like civil disobedience. The right choice depends on context and tone.
How can you remember which one to use?
Ask yourself whether the person or animal is following the rule. If yes, use obedient. If no, use disobedient. The memory tricks below also help you spell both words correctly.
Common mistakes
- ✗ The obidient dog sat down.
✓ The obedient dog sat down. - ✗ A disobdient child ignored the rule.
✓ A disobedient child ignored the rule. - ✗ He is very disobedience.
✓ He is very disobedient. - ✗ She showed great obedient to her coach.
✓ She showed great obedience to her coach. - ✗ The students behaved disobedient.
✓ The students behaved disobediently.
Memory tricks
- Start from “obey”: Obey leads to obedient. Both have an “e” right after the “b.”
- “Dis” means not: Just as disagree means not agree, disobedient means not obedient.
- Spell it in two steps: Write obedient first, then put dis in front. The result is disobedient, with one “s” and the whole word obedient inside it.
FAQ
What does obedient mean?
Obedient means willing to follow rules, orders or requests from someone with authority.
What does disobedient mean?
Disobedient means refusing or failing to follow rules, orders or requests.
How do you spell disobedient?
Disobedient is spelled d-i-s-o-b-e-d-i-e-n-t. Common misspellings include disobdient and dissobedient.
What is the opposite of obedient?
The opposite of obedient is disobedient. Words with similar meanings include defiant, rebellious and unruly.
What are the noun forms of obedient and disobedient?
The noun for obedient is obedience. The noun for disobedient is disobedience.
Conclusion
Now you know the obedient vs disobedient difference: obedient means following the rule, and disobedient means not following it. Just remember the “e” after the “b,” and share this with someone who often types “obidient.”