obedience
noun
obe·di·ence
ō-ˈbē-dē-ən(t)s 
ə-
1
a
: an act or instance of obeying
b
: the quality or state of being obedient
taught the children obedience and respect for authority
2
: a sphere of jurisdiction
landowners within the king's obedience
especially
: an ecclesiastical or sometimes secular dominion
under the obedience of the Bishop of Rome
Examples of obedience in a Sentence
the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits
the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command
Recent Examples on the Web
For example, a pet owner who doesn't have to absorb the full costs of a $5,000 emergency surgery bill may be better positioned to continue purchasing high-quality food, maintaining regular dental cleanings or enrolling in obedience classes afterward.
—
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Both local teams were certified in four disciplines that show off a police dog’s obedience and skills, that include narcotics and cadaver detection and tracking ability.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Eid al-Adha is one of the holiest days in Islam and commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God before God provided an animal to sacrifice instead.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
The festival commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, with millions of livestock being sacrificed across Bangladesh during the celebration.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for obedience
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Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Both local teams were certified in four disciplines that show off a police dog’s obedience and skills, that include narcotics and cadaver detection and tracking ability.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Eid al-Adha is one of the holiest days in Islam and commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God before God provided an animal to sacrifice instead.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
The festival commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, with millions of livestock being sacrificed across Bangladesh during the celebration.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for obedience
Cite this Entry
“Obedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obedience. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obedience
noun
obe·di·ence
ō-ˈbēd-ē-ən(t)s
ə-
1
: an act or instance of obeying
2
: the quality or state of being obedient
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