unruly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unruly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is difficult to control or manage, often referring to behavior that is disorderly or disruptive. Example: "The unruly crowd at the concert made it difficult for the security team to maintain order."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The west has long viewed the Saudis as a pillar of stability in an unruly region.

The Guardian

We are conditioned to perform particular roles, as you see in families all the time: the unruly one, the caring one, the quiet one, the clingy one.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Both men can be viewed as nightmarish southern archetypes; unruly ghosts in the wings of American history.

The Guardian - Film

Less frightened than others, perhaps, by the prospect of political change in choppy economic times, and indeed less spooked by the spectre let loose by the Tory campaign – the thought of London being held to ransom by unruly Scots.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rana said he had never had to deal with any unruly raves or even a late-night student party.

The Guardian - Money

He faces being beaten back into his old life, or beating the deeply prejudiced system that even in apparently more enlightened times, never expects, or wants, an unruly, desensitised ruffian to transform into a transgressive, inspirational thinker.

The Guardian - Music

Andrew Reeve's cramped London apartment wasn't the ideal place to start a brewing business, with bubbling hops creating an unruly mess in his kitchen.

The Guardian

Modern Turkey reportedly funds a massive genocide denial campaign, claiming that the death marches were merely "relocations" required by military necessity and that the massacres (the Euphrates was so packed with bodies that it altered its course) were the work of a few "unruly' officials.

The Guardian - Books

Finally, the notion that Lafazanis "controls" a third of Syriza is pure fiction whose aim is to unsettle the new Greek government and impose the extra-parliamentary schemes of unruly neoliberal bureaucrats.

The Guardian

Because it is itself an unruly bastard tongue, it is capacious enough for everyone to find within it their own unique cadences.

The Guardian - Opinion

But, as has been demonstrated in the western nations since 2001, wars on terror are unruly beasts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Apply the term to abstract concepts in technical writing, such as the "unruly infinities" found in quantum physics examples on Ludwig

Common error

Do not confuse "unruly" with moral depravity. The term denotes a lack of control or order rather than inherent malice. For instance, an "unruly child" is typically disobedient or energetic, not necessarily wicked.

Linguistic Context

As an adjective, "unruly" functions primarily as an attributive modifier (e.g., "unruly mob") or a predicative adjective (e.g., "the crowd was unruly"). Ludwig AI data shows it consistently modifies nouns representing people, physical objects, and complex systems.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Lifestyle

7%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Reference

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unruly" is a versatile and highly descriptive adjective that excels at depicting subjects that defy control or order. Whether used in a literal sense to describe physical attributes or metaphorically to discuss political regions and scientific theories, it maintains a consistent meaning of being "ungovernable". Ludwig AI highlights its prevalence in high-quality journalism, particularly when discussing groups like militias, protesters, or political allies. To use it effectively, remember that it focuses on the act of resisting order rather than the intent behind it. It is a powerful tool for adding nuance to descriptions of chaos or non-conformity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disorderly

Suggests a lack of organization or a violation of public peace

unmanageable

Focuses on the difficulty of governing or dealing with the subject

rowdy

Implies noisy and rough behavior, often in a social setting

rambunctious

Describes high-energy, boisterous, and often playful lack of control

intractable

Used for problems or people that are very difficult to manage or manipulate

boisterous

Refers specifically to noisy, energetic, and cheerful lack of restraint

refractory

A more formal or medical term for stubborn resistance to authority or treatment

lawless

Stronger term implying a complete absence of legal or moral restraint

wayward

Suggests being difficult to control due to unpredictable or perverse behavior

ungovernable

Indicates that the subject is impossible to keep under control

FAQs

How do I use unruly in a sentence?

You can use "unruly" to describe anything that resists control. For example: The teacher struggled to quiet the "unruly students" or She tried to comb her "unruly hair" before the meeting.

What is a more formal word for unruly?

In formal or academic contexts, you might use "intractable" or "recalcitrant" to describe someone or something that is difficult to manage.

Can unruly be used for inanimate objects?

Yes, as shown in Ludwig AI examples, it is frequently used for things like "unruly thickets" of foliage or "unruly mess" in a kitchen.

What is the difference between unruly and wild?

While "wild" suggests a natural state of being untamed, "unruly" specifically implies a failure to conform to existing rules, discipline, or expectations of order.