insubordination
Refusing lawful orders
Insubordination is defiance of authority, especially refusal to obey orders from a superior.
The word appears most often in military and workplace contexts, where hierarchy matters: He was fired for insubordination after ignoring his manager's direct instructions.
Unlike mere disagreement, insubordination implies willful disobedience—not just questioning authority but actively flouting it.
Bold, offensive disrespect
- impertinenceRude disregard for propriety
- impudenceShameless boldness toward superiors
- disrespectLack of regard
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
cheek · effrontery · gall · sassiness · brazenness · contempt · disdain · flippancy
Refusal to follow orders
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- refusalAct of declining
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- recalcitranceStubborn refusal to obey
obstinacy · contumacy · dissent · nonconformity · unruliness · intractability · waywardness · indiscipline
Organized resistance to power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- seditionInciting revolt against government
insurgency · treason · insurrection · overthrow · subversion · conspirator · mutineer · desertion
Armed forces judicial proceeding
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- demotionReduction in status
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- AWOLAbsent without permission
dereliction · rank · orders · commanding · discipline · protocol · tribunal · barracks
Act of ending something
- misconductImproper professional behavior
- HREmployee management department
- disciplinaryRelated to enforcing rules
- write-upDocumented account or review
warning · grievance · supervisor · employee · policy · violation · dismissal · suspension
insolence
Bold, offensive disrespect
- impertinenceRude disregard for propriety
- impudenceShameless boldness toward superiors
- disrespectLack of regard
audacity · cheek · effrontery · gall · sassiness · brazenness · contempt · disdain · flippancy · rudeness
disobedience
Refusal to follow orders
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- refusalAct of declining
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
recalcitrance · obstinacy · contumacy · dissent · nonconformity · unruliness · intractability · waywardness · indiscipline · perversity
revolt
Organized resistance to power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
sedition · insurgency · treason · insurrection · overthrow · subversion · conspirator · mutineer · desertion · ringleader
court-martial
Armed forces judicial proceeding
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- demotionReduction in status
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
AWOL · dereliction · rank · orders · commanding · discipline · protocol · tribunal · barracks · misconduct
termination
Act of ending something
- misconductImproper professional behavior
- HREmployee management department
- disciplinaryRelated to enforcing rules
write-up · warning · grievance · supervisor · employee · policy · violation · dismissal · suspension · manager
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- defiancedefiance, disobedience, noncompliance, rebellion, disobey
- disciplinemisconduct, violation, time-out, timeout, grounded
- misbehaviormisbehave, misbehavior, mischief, misconduct, naughty
- misconductmisconduct, bullying, stealing, vandalism, cheating
- Resistance tacticsrefusal, defiance, rebellion, protest, boycott
insubordinationobedience
Compliance with authority
compliance · subordination · submission · deference · dutifulness
insubordinationdocility
Readiness to submit
tractability · submissiveness · subservience · biddability · compliance