rebellious
UK: rɪˈbel.i.əs | US: rɪˈbel.i.əs
adj. resisting authority or control; defiant
adj. showing a desire to rebel
adj. (of things) difficult to manage or control
rebellious = rebel<resist> + ious<adjective suffix>
- rebel: From Latin rebellis ("renewing war"), combining re- (again) + bellum (war). The root implies repeated resistance.
- ious: A suffix forming adjectives, indicating "full of" or "having the quality of" (e.g., curious, glorious).
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin rebellis, reflecting a cyclical struggle ("war again"). Over time, rebel shifted from literal warfare to metaphorical defiance, while -ious generalized the trait. The combination paints rebellion as an inherent characteristic.
The rebellious teenager refused to follow school rules.
Her rebellious spirit led her to challenge outdated traditions.
The horse was too rebellious to be tamed easily.
His rebellious attitude often got him into trouble.
The artist’s work was praised for its rebellious creativity.