unruly

Meaning

Wild; uncontrolled.

Synonyms

ungovernable

disobedient

refractory

wayward

naughty

unrestrained

wild

uncontrollable

recalcitrant

intractable

rambunctious

unmanageable

mischievous

rumbustious

insubordinate

boisterous

self-willed

unbridled

undisciplined

rebellious

incorrigible

robustious

ill-behaved

frisky

frolicsome

stubborn

lawless

tough

troublesome

turbulent

disorderly

uncontrolled

delinquent

impertinent

restive

indocile

be stubborn

obstreperous

deadend

over-familiar

rowdy

savage

spiteful

straggly

thick-skinned

tousled

unbuttoned

unchecked

unfettered

ungoverned

unmannerly

unobstructed

untameable

untoward

unyielding

violent

wilful

badly behaved

brattish

bullying

trouble-making

over-bold

distubing

over-bearing

snatchy

bratty

contumacious

cruel

destructive

disruptive

dissolute

fidgety

forward

fractious

free

🆓

haywire

headstrong

immodest

insolent

irregular

knavish

libertine

loud

mad

misbehaved

obdurate

obstinate

perverse

pigheaded

playful

puckish

raffish

randy

rascally

rebel

reckless

recusant

revolt

riotous

roguish

romping

rough

rude

rugged

screaming

anomalous

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ʌnˈɹuːli/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: unruly

Cognate with Middle English: ruly

Inherited from Middle English: unrouly

Cognate with Danish: urolig

Cognate with Swedish: orolig

Cognate with Icelandic: órólegur

Cognate with Middle English: unroo

In summary

From Middle English unruly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- + rule + -ly (compare Middle English ruly, reuli (“subject to a religious rule, regular”)), but also representing a modified continuation of earlier Middle English unrouly, unroly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- + roolie. The latter is perhaps from or influenced by Old Norse *úróligr, related to Danish urolig (“restless”), Swedish orolig (“restless”), Icelandic órólegur (“agitated”). Compare also Middle English unroo, unro (“unrest”). More at roo.