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
Children should learn 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
Jumping: Held on the final day of competition, the purpose of the show jumping portion of the three-day event is to demonstrate the horse's energy and obedience after the cross-country test.
—
Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
What is more, the actors are in complete obedience to the last line of the play.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
Even so, their training focuses heavily on discipline and obedience.
—Samuel C. Mahaney, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025
Trump is enacting Project 2025 nearly to the letter, deploying executive orders, lawsuits, and rhetorical bombast in an effort to force judges, law firms, cultural institutions, university presidents, and press barons into postures of pitiable obedience.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
What is more, the actors are in complete obedience to the last line of the play.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
Even so, their training focuses heavily on discipline and obedience.
—Samuel C. Mahaney, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025
Trump is enacting Project 2025 nearly to the letter, deploying executive orders, lawsuits, and rhetorical bombast in an effort to force judges, law firms, cultural institutions, university presidents, and press barons into postures of pitiable obedience.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
Cite this Entry
“Obedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obedience. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share