1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
a handful of ungovernable students are disrupting the learning environment for everyone else
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2
as in uncontrollable
given to resisting control or discipline by others
resigned to the fact that my cat is basically is an ungovernable beast with a will of his own
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Recent Examples of ungovernable
Narrative has a seemingly relentless, ungovernable momentum, but humans retain a control over war stories that does not extend to war itself.
—
Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
For more than a century, people have wondered if the city is ungovernable; with the exception of Fiorello La Guardia, who had New Deal money raining down on him, every idealistic leader who has been elected mayor has left City Hall in some way battered by it.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
The gamble backfired and his centrist bloc lost seats to the far right and far left, leaving France with a divided National Assembly and effectively ungovernable.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the ocean itself plays its ungovernable part.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ungovernable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungovernable
Adjective
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Prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, slavery was the law in the rebellious states.—
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This wretched regime is doomed to be overthrown by the risen populace and rebellious youth.—
Adjective
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Leaders often blame uncontrollable factors—policies of previous administrations, hiring for a boom that fizzled unexpectedly, macroeconomic uncertainty, the rise of artificial intelligence—but all too often the real strategic issues go unaddressed.—
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The phenomenon of cavitation—the formation and collapse of tiny gas bubbles due to changes in pressure—was considered an undesirable and largely uncontrollable side effect.—
Adjective
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Two men are targeted by the rebel army who overthrew the government of Colonel Jacobo Arbenz Guzman.—
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He was denounced by rebel propagandists as a tyrant and remembered by Americans as a reactionary dolt.—
Adjective
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Trump is unmanageable and will intervene like no incumbent in history.—
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And as a new Forbes report explains, some of America's most popular cities are becoming downright unmanageable.—
Adjective
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Vice President Delcy Rodriguez initially was angry and defiant.—
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Venezuela’s interim leader, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, has alternated between taking a conciliatory approach towards Washington and striking a defiant tone.—
Adjective
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These two ingredients mixed together creates a powerful mixture perfect for lifting stubborn stains off grout because of their high cleaning and brightening properties.—
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The vinegar cleaning method isn’t foolproof, and sometimes stubborn residue can remain on your microwave walls.—
Adjective
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The debate over wolves may seem like an intractable clash of values.—
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Still, intractable issues remain.—
Adjective
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The unruly Weir ultimately returned to the Bay Area, where he was enrolled in Menlo-Atherton High.—
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Accusations often involved unruly pets or drug use.—
Cite this Entry
“Ungovernable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungovernable. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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