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obedient
/oʊˈbiːdiənt/
willing to follow rules
The obedient dog sat quietly when told to stay.
The dog followed the command without resisting or making noise.
neutral
Willing to comply with rules, orders, or requests; submissive to authority.
Children are expected to be obedient in the classroom.
Children are expected to follow the teacher's instructions without argument.
The soldier was praised for his obedient service.
The soldier was praised for dutifully following orders.
Often used to describe people, animals, or systems that follow instructions without resistance. Can imply a lack of independent thought or creativity.
Collocations
obedient tofollowing the rules or orders ofobedient childa child who follows instructionsobedient peta trained animal that follows commands
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'obedient' for people
In professional or personal contexts, 'compliant' or 'dutiful' may sound more natural than 'obedient' when describing human behavior. 'Obedient' is often used for animals or systems.
Gold Rule
Use 'obedient' for voluntary compliance
Unlike 'submissive' or 'docile,' 'obedient' implies a choice to follow rules or orders, even if the context is hierarchical (e.g., a child obeying a parent).
Word Origin
From Latin *obediens*, present participle of *obedire* ('to obey'), from *ob-* ('to') + *audire* ('to hear'). The sense of 'willing to follow rules' emerged in Middle English.
Usage Notes
While 'obedient' can describe positive behavior (e.g., a well-trained dog), it can also carry a negative connotation if it implies blind or unquestioning submission. Context determines tone.
Word Breakdown
ob-
toward
prefix-edient
hearing
suffixEnglish Dictionary