1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
a handful of ungovernable students are disrupting the learning environment for everyone else
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uncontrollable
given to resisting control or discipline by others
resigned to the fact that my cat is basically is an ungovernable beast with a will of his own
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of ungovernable
The colonial government’s fear of ungovernable Black people still lingered, however.
—
Sasha C. Wells / Made By History, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024
In its editorial, Automotive News said Stellantis might be ungovernable but was certainly in need of a major overhaul.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
But even Jewish-Jewish coalitions have proved ungovernable.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024
The many examples of personal incompetence in rich industrial democracies generated the thesis that such countries had become ungovernable.
—Harold James, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for ungovernable
Sasha C. Wells / Made By History, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024
In its editorial, Automotive News said Stellantis might be ungovernable but was certainly in need of a major overhaul.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
But even Jewish-Jewish coalitions have proved ungovernable.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024
The many examples of personal incompetence in rich industrial democracies generated the thesis that such countries had become ungovernable.
—Harold James, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for ungovernable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungovernable
Adjective
-
Aquarius: Justin Suarez Socially conscious and true fashionista, Justin’s creativity and free spirit very much align with Aquarius’ rebellious nature and sparkling individuality.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
It’s been 150 years since the Impressionists shocked Paris with their rebellious Société Anonyme show.—
Nazanin Lankarani,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Some means to understand things that are uncontrollable.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
-
By systematically reviewing and understanding the distinction between controllable and uncontrollable factors, informed decisions that align with financial goals can be made, setting the stage for the future.—
Ira Walker,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Plutarch, future Head Gamemaker of the 75th Hunger Games and commander of the rebel forces, is a young Capitol cameraman in this timeline who is tasked with documenting the tributes of District 12.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The civil war in Sudan, between the government’s SAF and the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has just passed its grisly second anniversary.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
These expenses, which lead to unmanageable debt, can include medical emergencies, natural disasters, and car repairs.—
Víctor Rosario,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The federal government, with its millions of employees, has ballooned into an unmanageable monstrosity, consuming trillions of taxpayer dollars while failing at even the most basic functions.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, was defiant in remarks to reporters earlier Monday.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2025
-
But when asked about the lack of norms and decorum in the current political climate and whether Democrats need to play on the same level, Himes was defiant.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Why Communication Training Often Fails To Stick Some people are very stubborn and stick to their communication style, even when confronted.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
The most glaring of those misses came against Arsenal in October, with Bournemouth trying to break down a stubborn defence following William Saliba’s dismissal.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But where others saw an intractable problem, Jean-François Archambault saw an opportunity.—
Afdhel Aziz,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
But since the end of the Cold War, there have been many more wars in which early successes faltered, lost momentum, or didn’t quite achieve enough, transforming the conflicts into something far more intractable.—
Lawrence D. Freedman,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The union is much looser—still an unruly collection of proud, independent nations, not a federation of states.—
Tamar Jacoby,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Our spring cleaning storefront has organizational staples for tackling unruly drawers, closets, and pantries.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ungovernable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungovernable. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share