obedience
noun
obe·di·ence
ō-ˈbē-dē-ən(t)s 
ə-
1
a
: an act or instance of obeying
b
: the quality or state of being obedient
Children should learn obedience and respect for authority.
2
: a sphere of jurisdiction
landowners within the king's obedience
especially
: an ecclesiastical or sometimes secular dominion
under the obedience of the Bishop of Rome
Examples of obedience in a Sentence
the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits
the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump is enacting Project 2025 nearly to the letter, deploying executive orders, lawsuits, and rhetorical bombast in an effort to force judges, law firms, cultural institutions, university presidents, and press barons into postures of pitiable obedience.
—
David Remnick, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
There are many reasons a person might hesitate to partake in French ring, a sport where dogs are judged on their agility, obedience and ability to provide protection.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Yann LeCun always reminds me of the very best of Bell Labs' scientists and engineers—a unique breed of individual, fiercely independent of thought and action, who thrive within company structures that typically value obedience and conformance to the corporate mantra and goals.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
This is where the puppy fosters come in so the dog is trained to basic obedience, learning day-to-day with the family, house manners, interacting with different people, the household.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
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David Remnick, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
There are many reasons a person might hesitate to partake in French ring, a sport where dogs are judged on their agility, obedience and ability to provide protection.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Yann LeCun always reminds me of the very best of Bell Labs' scientists and engineers—a unique breed of individual, fiercely independent of thought and action, who thrive within company structures that typically value obedience and conformance to the corporate mantra and goals.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
This is where the puppy fosters come in so the dog is trained to basic obedience, learning day-to-day with the family, house manners, interacting with different people, the household.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
Cite this Entry
“Obedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obedience. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obedience
noun
obe·di·ence
ō-ˈbēd-ē-ən(t)s
ə-
1
: an act or instance of obeying
2
: the quality or state of being obedient
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