insubordinate
gb/ɪnsəbˈɔɹdənɪt/ us/ɪnsəbˈɔɹdənɪt/
C1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
refusing to obey authority
Not willing to do what a person in authority tells you to do.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is insubordinate (to/toward [someone]); an insubordinate [employee/soldier/student]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse insubordinate (disobedient) with subordinate (lower in rank).
Synonymes
disobedient (General word for not following rules or orders.)
|
defiant (Emphasizes active resistance to authority.)
|
rebellious (Suggests a broader pattern of resisting control, not just one order.)
|
unruly (Often implies hard to control rather than directly challenging authority.)
Antonymes
obedient (Willing to do what you are told.)
|
compliant (Willing to follow rules or requests, often without protest.)
|
submissive (Too willing to accept authority; stronger than obedient.)
Collocations
insubordinate employee
|insubordinate soldier
|insubordinate behavior
|insubordinate conduct
|insubordinate attitude
|insubordinate student
|openly insubordinate
|blatantly insubordinate
|accused of being insubordinate
|insubordinate to his manager
Thèmes
work
|law_and_order
|military
|education
|relationships
Exemples
- He was fired for being insubordinate after repeatedly ignoring his supervisor’s instructions.
- The officer reported the recruit as insubordinate when she refused a direct order.
- The principal warned that insubordinate students could be suspended.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The manager said he was insubordinate.
- It is insubordinate to refuse an order.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
showing disrespect to a superior
Rude to a boss or other person in charge.
Schéma d’usage :
an insubordinate [remark/tone/gesture] (to/toward [someone])
Erreur fréquente :
Insubordinate usually describes behavior toward authority, not general rudeness to friends or equals.
Synonymes
disrespectful (Broader; not limited to relationships of authority.)
|
impertinent (More about rude boldness in speech; slightly old-fashioned/formal.)
|
cheeky (Informal; can be mild or even playful, unlike insubordinate.)
Antonymes
respectful (Shows proper respect to authority or others.)
|
deferential (Shows a lot of respect to someone more powerful.)
|
polite (General good manners; not specifically about authority.)
Collocations
insubordinate remark
|insubordinate tone
|insubordinate response
|insubordinate manner
|insubordinate language
|an insubordinate comment
|sound insubordinate
|seem insubordinate
Thèmes
work
|relationships
|communication
Exemples
- Her insubordinate tone in the meeting made the director stop the discussion.
- The email was read as insubordinate because it challenged the decision publicly.
- He apologized for the insubordinate remark he made in frustration.
Exemples pédagogiques
- His answer sounded insubordinate.
- She wrote an insubordinate email to her boss.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
insubordinate
API
GB/ɪnsəbˈɔɹdənɪt/
US/ɪnsəbˈɔɹdənɪt/
Syllabes et accentuation
in - sub - or - din - ate (5 syllabes)
Stress on 3rd syllable (or)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: insubordinate
Famille de mots
Core family
Advanced or less common
subordinator
noun
Expressions
Aucune expression n’est encore associée à cette entrée.