Definition of UNRULY

unruly

Adjective Satellite

  • noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
    • "an unruly class"
  • unwilling to submit to authority
    • "unruly teenagers"
  • of persons
    • "the little boy's parents think he is spirited, but his teacher finds him unruly"

Adj

  • Wild; uncontrolled.

Adjective

  • Difficult to control or manage; disobedient.

Examples

  • His unruly rack of consonants made finding a bingo nearly impossible in Words With Friends.
  • The police gathered to contain the unruly mob.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English unruly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- + rule + -ly (compare Middle English ruly, reuli (“subject to a religious rule, regular”)), but also representing a modified continuation of earlier Middle English unrouly, unroly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- + roolie. The latter is perhaps from or influenced by Old Norse *úróligr, related to Danish urolig (“restless”), Swedish orolig (“restless”), Icelandic órólegur (“agitated”). Compare also Middle English unroo, unro (“unrest”). More at roo.

Scrabble Score: 9

unruly: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
unruly: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
unruly: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

unruly: valid Words With Friends Word