unruly
unruly — adjective
- unrulypositive
- more unrulycomparative
- most unrulysuperlative
1. An unruly person or group refuses to follow rules or accept direction, behaving
An unruly person or group refuses to follow rules or accept direction, behaving in a way that is hard to manage.
The substitute teacher walked into an unruly classroom where students were throwing paper planes.
collocation: unruly classroom
Mia's parents received a letter about her unruly behaviour during lunch breaks at school.
collocation: unruly behaviour
The referee sent two players off for unruly conduct late in the match.
An unruly crowd pushed against the metal barriers outside the concert hall.
Iker's younger brother was the most unruly child in the summer camp group.
- disobedient
More general; applies to people, pets, and even body parts, while unruly is stronger and implies disruptive behaviour.
- rowdy
Specifically noisy and rough; unruly includes rowdy behaviour but also covers quieter defiance.
- wayward
More literary; suggests a stubborn or unpredictable refusal to change, often used for children.
- well-behaved
Follows rules and instructions without needing to be told more than once.
- disciplined
Suggests self-control and order, the opposite of wild or defiant behaviour.
用法筆記
Often describes groups or collective behaviour (class, crowd, conduct) rather than a single person acting alone in a quiet way.
常見錯誤
2. Unruly hair is naturally thick, curly, or coarse, making it very difficult to ke
Unruly hair is naturally thick, curly, or coarse, making it very difficult to keep neat or flat.
Sofia spent fifteen minutes trying to brush her unruly hair into a neat ponytail.
collocation: unruly hair
The strong wind made Hao's unruly curls stick up in wild directions.
Adina bought a special conditioner to help control her dry, unruly hair.
Stefan's unruly hair refused to lie flat no matter how much gel he used.
The hairdresser suggested a short cut to deal with Nora's thick, unruly mop of hair.
- wild
More general and common; can describe hair, plants, animals, or behaviour, while unruly is more specific about hair texture.
- unkempt
Describes untidy appearance from lack of care; unruly hair may be tidy but still hard to control.
- tangled
Focused on knots rather than the underlying texture that makes hair hard to manage.
用法筆記
Describes the natural texture or behaviour of hair, not a temporary messy state from lack of grooming.