unruly

/ʌnˈruːli/ (bre, ipa) · [ənrˈuli] /ʌnˈruːli/ (ame, ipa) · [ənrˈuli] /ˌən-ˈrü-lē How to pronounce unruly (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unruly — adjective

  • unrulypositive
  • more unrulycomparative
  • most unrulysuperlative

1. Hard to keep under control because the person or group ignores rules, refuses to

1.形容詞C1
釋義

Hard to keep under control because the person or group ignores rules, refuses to listen, or behaves too wildly.

例句

The new teacher struggled with an unruly class after lunch.

collocation: unruly class

Police closed the gate when the crowd grew unruly outside the stadium.

pattern: grow unruly

同義詞
  • disobedient

    focuses on refusing to do what someone in authority says

  • rowdy

    stresses noisy, rough behaviour, especially in a group

  • wild

    broader and less exact; can suggest lack of control or strong excitement

  • unmanageable

    more formal and often used when attempts to control have failed

反義詞
  • obedient

    willing to follow rules or instructions

  • well-behaved

    common for children or groups that act calmly and properly

  • orderly

    stresses calm, controlled behaviour rather than simple obedience

文法句型

unruly + noun

be/become/grow + unruly

用法筆記

Often used with children, crowds, classes, protests, or behaviour that resists rules. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 is about control and obedience, not about keeping something neat.

常見錯誤

❌The unruly printer would not start.
✅The faulty printer would not start.
💡'Unruly' usually describes people, groups, or behaviour that resists control, not a machine that is simply broken.

2. Used for hair that will not stay neat or smooth, often because it sticks up, spr

2.形容詞C1
釋義

Used for hair that will not stay neat or smooth, often because it sticks up, spreads out, or curls the wrong way.

例句

Nila tied back her unruly hair before the school photo.

collocation: unruly hair

Humidity made Kenji's unruly curls stick out in every direction.

collocation: unruly curls

同義詞
  • untidy

    general everyday word for something not neat

  • messy

    more informal and broader; can describe many kinds of untidiness

  • unmanageable

    common for hair that is hard to brush, style, or keep in place

反義詞
  • neat

    kept tidy and in good order

  • smooth

    lies flat without roughness or stray curls

  • tidy

    in order and easy to keep looking neat

文法句型

unruly + hair/curls/fringe

hair + go/grow + unruly

用法筆記

Usually used before 'hair', 'curls', or 'fringe', or after verbs like 'go' and 'grow'. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is about appearance and tidiness, not refusing to obey.

常見錯誤

❌My desk is unruly again.
✅My desk is messy again.
💡This sense is mainly used for hair that will not stay neat, not for a cluttered desk.