as in rebellion
refusal to obey
was fired for chronic insubordination
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Recent Examples of insubordination
He was terminated over allegations of abuse of power, insubordination, abuse of leave policies, and failure to report damage to a department vehicle.
—
Brian Maass, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Green Thumb asserted Contreras was terminated for insubordination and other reasons.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
Their prophet, the woman who brought Shakerism from Manchester, England all the way to the American colonies in 1774, played by Amanda Seyfried, learns of the insubordination.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Hallucinogenic sequences in which Kiri walks the alien version of Garden of Gethsemane lead into an entire subplot with the tulkun that culminates in a mini courtroom drama with our boy Payakan on trial for insubordination.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
This investigation was called for by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who accused Kelly and five other Democrats in the video of encouraging insubordination.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
During removal hearings in August, Corpus cited Monaghan’s insubordination as the reason for his termination.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
Grier hired Brian Flores, whom the organization fired after three seasons because of his alleged insubordination, and difficulty working with people, and then hired McDaniel after the franchise shot their shot and missed on Sean Payton.
—Omar Kelly
october 31, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
One agent was disciplined for insubordination after refusing to go along with the plan to embarrass Comey in this way.
—The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
Brian Maass, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Green Thumb asserted Contreras was terminated for insubordination and other reasons.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
Their prophet, the woman who brought Shakerism from Manchester, England all the way to the American colonies in 1774, played by Amanda Seyfried, learns of the insubordination.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Hallucinogenic sequences in which Kiri walks the alien version of Garden of Gethsemane lead into an entire subplot with the tulkun that culminates in a mini courtroom drama with our boy Payakan on trial for insubordination.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
This investigation was called for by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who accused Kelly and five other Democrats in the video of encouraging insubordination.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
During removal hearings in August, Corpus cited Monaghan’s insubordination as the reason for his termination.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
Grier hired Brian Flores, whom the organization fired after three seasons because of his alleged insubordination, and difficulty working with people, and then hired McDaniel after the franchise shot their shot and missed on Sean Payton.
—Omar Kelly
october 31, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
One agent was disciplined for insubordination after refusing to go along with the plan to embarrass Comey in this way.
—The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insubordination
Noun
-
But the rebellion has also spurred a race to the bottom.—
Laura K. Field,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Confederate sympathizers carved up the old design, claiming the red-and-white Crossland pattern to signal rebellion loyalty.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some Iranians keep showing defiance anyway.—
Sanam Mahoozi Arlette Bashizi Saumya Khandelwal Stephen Marche,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
For the next 47 years the ban stood, though a few skaters still performed backflips in competition as a show of defiance.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
-
This transit stokes your sense of independence and even rebelliousness, inspiring you to strike out against convention and innovate more than ever.—
Maressa Brown,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As litigation commenced and DHS officials were called to testify, judges became frustrated at the rampant false testimony and disobedience of the government.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The passenger was arrested, and now faces charges of crime of resistance and disobedience.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The orphan’s predicament is as much a matter of willfulness as of survival—inseparable, as in the works of Charles Dickens, from a dream of being somehow rescued by the idea of an adult world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The stakes may differ, but the disrespect for local authority remains the same.—
Joshua Simmons,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Swedish disrespect is real.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insubordination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insubordination. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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