rebellious
gb/ɹɪbˈɛljəs/ us/ɹɪbˈɛljəs/
B2
Inglês
~ 8000
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
B2
property
1
disobedient; resisting control or rules
Not wanting to follow rules or do what people in power tell you to do.
Padrão de uso:
[someone] is rebellious
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse 'rebellious' with 'revolting'. 'Rebellious' means resisting rules or authority, while 'revolting' usually means disgusting. Also, to describe a person you say 'He is rebellious' or 'He is a rebellious child', not 'He is rebel' (that would need the article: 'He is a rebel').
Sinónimos
defiant (Often suggests open challenge to authority, sometimes stronger and more confrontational than 'rebellious'.)
|
disobedient (Focuses more on the act of not doing what you are told, without the idea of strong inner attitude that 'rebellious' suggests.)
Antónimos
obedient (Describes someone who does what they are told and follows rules, the direct opposite of being rebellious.)
|
compliant (Emphasizes willingness to go along with rules or demands rather than resisting them.)
Colocações
rebellious teenager
|rebellious child
|rebellious attitude
|rebellious streak
|rebellious phase
|rebellious spirit
Temas
behavior
|society
|family
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Their eldest son has always been the rebellious one, constantly questioning their decisions.
- As a teenager she went through a very rebellious phase and argued with her parents about everything.
- The school is known for its creative, slightly rebellious students.
- He admired her rebellious attitude toward unfair workplace rules.
- Even as a child, he had a rebellious streak that worried his teachers.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- My little brother is very rebellious and never listens to our parents.
- She was a quiet but rebellious student who hated school rules.
- During my teenage years I was quite rebellious.
- The teacher tried to control the rebellious class.
- His parents do not know how to handle his rebellious behavior.
adjective
C1
property
2
supporting or involved in rebellion
Fighting against the government or leaders, or helping a group that does this.
Padrão de uso:
a rebellious [region/group/army]
Erro comum:
Learners may overuse this sense for everyday disobedience. For normal daily situations (children, students, employees), sense 1 is usually meant, not the political sense used in news reports.
Sinónimos
insurgent (Frequently used in news to describe armed groups fighting against a government; more technical and political than 'rebellious'.)
|
revolutionary (Suggests wanting complete political change; can be more ideological than 'rebellious'.)
Antónimos
loyal (Describes people or regions that continue to support the government or ruler instead of resisting.)
|
pro-government (Describes groups or forces that actively support the current government, the opposite of a rebellious group.)
Colocações
rebellious provinces
|rebellious region
|rebellious forces
|rebellious army
|rebellious militiamen
|rebellious factions
Temas
politics
|conflict
|society
|law
Exemplos
- The army was sent to regain control of the rebellious province.
- Talks between the government and the rebellious factions have broken down.
- The president promised harsh measures against rebellious soldiers.
- Aid workers could not enter the rebellious region because of ongoing clashes.
- The general refused to negotiate with the rebellious officers who had led the coup attempt.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The government lost control of several rebellious regions.
- Rebellious forces took over the main airport.
- Police tried to separate the rebellious crowd from the city center.
- The leader called for peace talks with the rebellious group.
- Soldiers were sent to stop the rebellious army.
adjective
C1
property
3
difficult to control or manage
Hard to control or keep in place, especially hair or a body part.
Padrão de uso:
rebellious [hair/part/thing]
Erro comum:
Learners may think this use is always about people and attitude. In this sense, 'rebellious' is often used playfully for things like hair or body parts that will not stay how you want them.
Sinónimos
unruly (Very close in meaning here; often used about hair or crowds that are hard to control.)
|
unmanageable (More general and slightly more formal; can describe anything that is hard to control, not just hair or body parts.)
Antónimos
manageable (Describes something that can be easily controlled or dealt with.)
|
tame (Often used about animals or behavior, but can also describe hair or style that is easy to control or calm.)
Colocações
rebellious hair
|rebellious curls
|rebellious lock of hair
|rebellious fringe
|rebellious stomach
Temas
appearance
|daily life
|daily_life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- She tried to tie back her rebellious hair, but strands kept falling into her face.
- After the accident, his rebellious knee made it hard for him to walk long distances.
- He pushed his rebellious curls under a hat before the interview.
- Her stylist recommended a stronger product to control her rebellious fringe.
- A rebellious stomach forced him to cancel the trip.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- I use gel to control my rebellious hair.
- His rebellious knee hurts when he runs.
- She cut her long, rebellious curls short.
- This cream helps with my rebellious skin.
- He wore a cap to hide his rebellious hair.
adjective
C1
property
4
challenging social or cultural norms
Not following normal ideas or styles in society, art, clothes, etc., on purpose.
Padrão de uso:
a rebellious [style/work/spirit]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse this with purely political rebellion. In this sense, 'rebellious' can describe styles, art, or ideas that push against social or cultural norms, even without direct political action.
Sinónimos
nonconformist (Focuses on not following accepted ways or rules; often slightly more formal than 'rebellious'.)
|
radical (Suggests strong or extreme change from traditional ideas; more political or ideological than 'rebellious' in some contexts.)
Antónimos
conventional (Describes ideas, styles, or behavior that follow what is usual and widely accepted.)
|
traditional (Emphasizes following long‑established customs or ways of doing things, instead of challenging them.)
Colocações
rebellious style
|rebellious music
|rebellious lyrics
|rebellious art
|rebellious youth culture
Temas
culture
|art
|society
|arts_entertainment
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The band's rebellious image appealed to teenagers who felt misunderstood.
- Her paintings were seen as rebellious and shocked the local art community.
- He adopted a rebellious style of dress, with ripped jeans and heavy boots.
- The movie captures the rebellious spirit of youth in the 1970s.
- Her writing has a quiet but deeply rebellious energy.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The singer is famous for her rebellious style.
- His art is very rebellious and different from the others.
- The book shows the rebellious spirit of young people.
- Many students like music with rebellious lyrics.
- Her clothes are bright and rebellious, not traditional.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
rebellious
IPA
GB/ɹɪbˈɛljəs/
US/ɹɪbˈɛljəs/
Sílabas e acento
re - bel - li - ous (4 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (bel)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: rebellious
Família de palavras
Expressões
rebellious phase
1/ɹɪbˈɛljəs fˈeɪz/
fixed phrase
a period of frequent rebellion
A time in someone’s life, often when they are a teenager, when they are very rebellious.
Exemplos
- Their daughter is going through a rebellious phase and argues about every rule.
- Many parents hope their child’s rebellious phase will not last long.
- He later laughed about the dark clothes he wore during his rebellious phase.
rebellious spirit
1/ɹɪbˈɛljəs spˈɪɹɪt/
fixed phrase
strong inner desire to resist
A strong feeling inside a person that makes them want to fight control or do things their own way.
Exemplos
- The novel celebrates the rebellious spirit of the main character.
- Her rebellious spirit made her leave the company and start her own business.
- The teacher tried not to crush the boy’s rebellious spirit.
rebellious streak
1/ɹɪbˈɛljəs stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
a tendency to resist authority
A part of someone’s character that often makes them say no to rules or people in control.
Exemplos
- She has a rebellious streak that sometimes gets her into trouble at work.
- Even as a child, his rebellious streak was easy to see.
- Her parents worry that his rebellious streak will lead him to make risky choices.
rebellious teenager
1/ɹɪbˈɛljəs tˈinˌeɪd͡ʒɚ/
fixed phrase
teen who often breaks rules
A teenage boy or girl who does not want to follow rules or listen to parents or teachers.
Exemplos
- As a rebellious teenager, she dyed her hair bright blue.
- The movie tells the story of a shy but rebellious teenager.
- Many parents find it hard to communicate with a rebellious teenager.
rebellious youth
1/ɹɪbˈɛljəs jˈuθ/
fixed phrase
young people resisting authority
Young people, usually as a group, who fight against rules or normal ways in society.
Exemplos
- The play is a portrait of rebellious youth in the big city.
- The festival became a symbol of rebellious youth in the 1960s.
- The book explores how rebellious youth can change society.