adj. 1. Prone to or participating in a rebellion: rebellious army officers. See Synonyms at insubordinate. 2. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a rebel or rebellion: Rebellious activity has diminished in the province. 3. Characterized by or expressing resistance to or defiance of authority or convention: a rebellious teenager; a rebellious artistic movement. 4. Resistant to treatment or adjustment: "battled with characteristically rebellious plumbing" (Isabella Tree). re·bellious·ly adv. re·bellious·ness n. |
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