Rebellious
/rɪˈbɛljəs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Rebellious describes someone or something that does not want to follow rules or authority. It often shows a strong feeling of wanting freedom or to do things their own way. This word is used to talk about people, especially young people, who act against what others want or expect.
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See It in Action
Showing resistance or refusal to obey authority or rules
- •The rebellious student refused to wear the school uniform.
- •Many teenagers go through a rebellious phase as they grow up.
- •His rebellious attitude made it hard for him to follow the company's policies.
Acting in a way that challenges social or political rules
- •The rebellious group protested against the government.
- •Rebellious behavior can sometimes lead to important changes in society.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "rebellious" like "disobey" (a simple A1 word), but stronger and more about fighting or resisting rules actively
- ✓Picture a teenager crossing their arms and refusing to listen to a teacher or parent
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to do things your own way and not follow what others say
- ✓Sounds like "re-BELL-ious" → imagine a bell ringing loudly to call people to stand up and fight rules
- ✓Remember stories of heroes or characters who fight against unfair rules, like Robin Hood or young people in school who protest
- ✓NOT like "quiet" or "calm" (peaceful); rebellious is noisy, active, and sometimes angry
- ✓NOT like "careless" (not careful); rebellious means careful choice to go against rules, not just forgetting
- ✓NOT like "lazy" (not working); rebellious people often work hard but against control or orders
Try Other Words
- •Defiant: openly refusing to obey (Use when the refusal is bold and clear)
- •Unruly: hard to control or manage (Use when behavior is wild or noisy)
- •Resistant: not accepting or wanting to change (Use when someone opposes ideas or rules but less actively)
Unboxing
- •Prefix "re-" means "again" or "back"
- •Root "bell" comes from Latin "bellum," meaning "war" or "fight"
- •Suffix "-ious" means "full of" or "having the quality of"
- •Together, "rebellious" means "full of fighting back" or "ready to fight against"
- •The word comes from Latin "rebellare," meaning to renew war or fight again
- •Over time, it came to mean resisting authority, not just war
- •Today, it describes people or actions that oppose control or rules, often in personal or social situations
Reflect & Connect
•When can being rebellious be a good thing, and when can it cause problems?
•How do different cultures see rebellious behavior—do they always think it is bad?
Fill in the blanks
1.Teenagers often act rebellious because they want to ___ their own decisions and not just ___ their parents.
2.A rebellious person usually does not ___ to rules easily and may ___ authority openly.
3.Unlike quiet disagreement, rebellious behavior is often ___ and shows clear ___ against control.
4.When someone is rebellious, they might ___ rules or ___ orders on purpose.
5.People describe a rebellious phase as a time when young people try to ___ limits and ___ independence.
6.Rebellious actions can sometimes lead to ___ social changes or ___ conflict.
7.The teacher noticed the student’s rebellious attitude because they ___ instructions and ___ rules regularly.