obey
The word “obey” has 2 syllables: o-bey
It's pronounced as /oʊˈbeɪ/
What is synonym and antonym for obey?
In the thesaurus, “obey” has 51 synonyms and 57 antonyms.
Here are synonyms and antonyms for obey along with examples of usage in sentences.
Synonyms for obey
- abide by
- accede
- accept
- accord
- acquiesce
- act upon
- adhere to
- agree
- answer
- assent
- attend
- be loyal to
- be ruled by
- bow to
- carry out
- comply
- concur
- discharge
- do as one says
- do what is expected
- do what one is told
- embrace
- execute
- fall in with
- follow
- fulfill
- get in line
- give way
- hear
- heed
- hold fast
- keep
- keep to
- knuckle under
- live by
- mark
- mind
- note
- notice
- observe
- perform
- play second fiddle
- regard
- respond
- serve
- submit
- surrender
- take
- take orders
- toe the line
- watch
Antonyms for obey
- argue
- ask
- breach
- break
- buck
- challenge
- combat
- contest
- dare
- decline
- defy
- deny
- deride
- differ
- direct
- disagree
- disallow
- disapprove
- dismiss
- disobey
- disoblige
- dispute
- disregard
- dissent
- fail
- fight
- flout
- forget
- ignore
- infringe
- lead
- leave
- miss
- mock
- mutiny
- neglect
- object
- oppose
- overlook
- overpass
- pass over
- pooh
- pooh-pooh
- protest
- question
- rebel
- refuse
- reject
- renounce
- repudiate
- resist
- scorn
- shrug off
- transgress
- tune out
- violate
- withstand
Meanings of obey
- verb
- To do as ordered by (a person, institution etc), to act according to the bidding of.
- To do as one is told.
- To be obedient, compliant (to a given law, restriction etc.).
Example Sentences
- Students are expected to obey the school rules at all times.
- The commanding officer ordered the soldiers to obey the direct orders.
- It is essential for citizens to obey traffic laws for public safety.
- The well-trained dog would always obey its owner's commands.
- The principle of democracy is that everyone must obey the laws of the land.
On this page you'll find 108 synonyms, antonyms, or another words to obey, such as: abide by, accede, accept, accord, acquiesce, act upon, adhere to.
Make sure to choose synonyms and antonyms that are appropriate for the context of the sentence.
Related Words
keep
- abide by
- accomplish
- accumulate
- achieve
- adhere to
- administer
- administrate
- amass
- answer
- arrest
- attend
- avert
- battle
- bear
- bless
- block
- board
- boast
- bridle
- bring about
- bring off
- buffer
- bulwark
- cache
- care
- care and feeding
- care for
- carry
- carry on
- carry out
- celebrate
- cellar
- check
- cherish
- codirect
- comanage
- command
- commemorate
- commit
- compass
- complete
- comply with
- conclude
- conduct
- consecrate
- conservancy
- conservation
- conserve
- conserving
- constrain
- consummate
- contain
- contend
- continue
- control
- cover
- curb
- custody
- deal in
- defend
- defense
- delay
- deposit
- detain
- deter
- direct
- discharge
- effect
- endure
- enjoy
- execute
- feed
- fence
- fend
- fete
- fight
- file
- fill
- finalize
- finance
- finish
- forfend
- foster
- fulfil
- fulfill
- fund
- gag
- garage
- garner
- govern
- grasp
- grip
- guard
- guardianship
- guarding
- guide
- hamper
- hamstring
- handcuff
- handle
- hang on to
- hangar
- harbor
- have
- heap
- hinder
- hold
- hold back
- hold on to
- honor
- house
- hug
- impede
- inhibit
- interrupt
- laud
- lead
- limit
- look after
- maintain
- maintenance
- make
- make good
- make good on
- manage
- measure
- meet
- memorialize
- micromanage
- mince
- mind
- minister to
- muffle
- muzzle
- nourish
- nurture
- obey
- observe
- obstruct
- operate
- oppose
- ordain
- overlook
- oversee
- own
- pack
- palisade
- patronize
- perfect
- perform
- picket
- pile
- pilot
- place
- possess
- praise
- preservation
- preserve
- preserving
- prevent
- protect
- protection
- provision
- pull in
- put
- put up
- redeem
- regard
- regulate
- remember
- reposit
- repress
- reserve
- resist
- respect
- restrain
- retain
- retard
- ritualize
- rule
- run
- safeguard
- safeguarding
- safekeeping
- sanctify
- satisfy
- save
- screen
- season
- secure
- set up
- shackle
- shelter
- shelve
- shield
- silence
- sink
- smother
- solemnize
- sponsor
- squelch
- stack
- stage-manage
- stake
- stall
- stand up for
- steer
- steward
- stifle
- stock
- stop
- store
- stow
- strangle
- subsidize
- superintend
- supervise
- support
- suppress
- sustain
- sustaining
- sustentation
- swallow
- take care of
- tame
- tend
- trade in
- treasure
- underwrite
- upkeep
- victual
- wall
- war
- ward
- warehouse
- watch
- watch over
- withhold
- withstand
keep an eye on
- abide by
- accomplish
- accord
- adhere to
- administer
- adopt
- advance
- advise
- aid
- angel
- attend
- attend to
- audit
- baby sit
- baby-sit
- back
- bankroll
- be a source of strength
- be attentive
- be consistent with
- be devoted to
- be guided by
- be in charge
- be in keeping
- be in the saddle
- be interested in
- be on duty
- be responsible for
- beam
- bedog
- behold
- boss
- bring up
- bulwark
- buoy up
- call the play
- call the shots
- captain
- care for
- case
- catch
- cater to
- chaperon
- chaperone
- check
- check out
- cherish
- command
- comply
- concentrate
- concentrate on
- conduct
- conform
- contemplate
- control
- convoy
- copy
- corral
- counsel
- cover
- cover up
- crack the whip
- cradle
- cultivate
- deal with
- defend
- detect
- devote oneself
- dig
- direct
- discern
- discipline
- discover
- distinguish
- do
- do for
- do like
- dog
- eagle eye
- eagle-eye
- emulate
- encourage
- ensure
- escort
- espy
- examine
- eye
- eyeball
- father
- feed
- fend
- finance
- flash
- focus
- follow
- follow suit
- fortify
- forward
- foster
- fund
- further
- gape
- gawk
- gaze
- get a load of
- get an eyeful of
- give a leg up
- give allegiance to
- give heed to
- give the once-over
- glance
- glare
- glimpse
- goggle
- govern
- guard
- handle
- harbor
- harmonize
- have a look-see
- have charge of
- hear
- hearken
- heed
- herd
- hold fast
- hound
- humor
- imitate
- immunize
- indulge
- inoculate
- inspect
- irradiate
- keep
- keep abreast of
- keep alive
- keep in view
- keep tabs on
- keep track of
- keep under surveillance
- lamp
- lend an ear
- listen
- listen up
- live up to
- look
- look after
- look at
- look on
- lookout
- maintain
- make a living
- make certain
- make out
- manage
- mark
- match
- medicate
- mimic
- mind
- mind the store
- minister
- minister to
- mirror
- model on
- monitor
- mother
- note
- notice
- nourish
- nurse
- nurture
- obey
- observe
- occupy oneself with
- overlook
- oversee
- pamper
- patrol
- pattern oneself upon
- pay attention
- pay attention to
- pay expenses of
- pay for
- pay heed
- peek
- peep
- peer
- perceive
- perform
- pick up
- pick up on
- pick up the check
- pipe
- police
- preserve
- preside over
- promote
- prop
- protect
- provide for
- pursue
- put up money for
- quarterback
- raise
- read
- recognize
- record
- reflect
- regard
- ride herd on
- ride shotgun for
- rubberneck
- run
- run the show
- run things
- safeguard
- save
- scan
- scope
- screen
- scrutinize
- secure
- see
- see after
- see to
- serve
- set up
- shadow
- shelter
- shepherd
- shield
- shotgun
- sight
- sit
- sit on top of
- skipper
- sponsor
- spot
- spy
- stake
- stalk
- stare
- stiffen
- stonewall
- strengthen
- string along
- stroke
- study
- subsidize
- succor
- superintend
- supervise
- support
- surveil
- survey
- sustain
- tag
- take a gander
- take after
- take as an example
- take care of
- take charge of
- take in
- take notice
- take pains
- take under wing
- tend
- track
- trail
- treat
- underwrite
- uphold
- vaccinate
- view
- wait
- wait on
- watch
- watch out for
- watch over
- witness
abide by
- accept
- accomplish
- achieve
- acknowledge
- adopt
- advocate
- agree to
- answer
- attend
- back
- backstop
- bolster
- boost
- bring about
- bring off
- buttress
- carry out
- champion
- cherish
- commit
- compass
- complete
- comply with
- concede
- conclude
- confirm
- consent to
- consummate
- cultivate
- defend
- discharge
- effect
- embrace
- endorse
- enforce
- espouse
- execute
- fall in with
- fill
- finalize
- finish
- follow
- foster
- fulfill
- hear
- heed
- hold to
- indorse
- keep
- keep to
- live up to
- make
- make good
- make good on
- mark
- meet
- mind
- note
- notice
- obey
- observe
- perfect
- perform
- redeem
- reenforce
- regard
- reinforce
- satisfy
- stand by
- submit to
- support
- take
- uphold
- watch
fall
- abasement
- abate
- abatement
- alleviate
- angle
- arrive
- back down
- backslide
- basin
- be casualty
- be destroyed
- be killed
- be lost
- be precipitated
- be taken
- become
- befall
- belly flop
- bend
- bite the dust
- bomb
- bottom
- bow
- bow out
- breach
- break
- break down
- break the law
- breakdown
- breakup
- buckle
- burnout
- buy it
- buy the farm
- cant
- capitulate
- capitulation
- cascade
- cataract
- cave in
- chance
- check out
- chute
- cock
- collapse
- come about
- come to pass
- comedown
- compress
- concede
- condense
- constrict
- consume
- contract
- crash
- crater
- croak
- crumbling
- crumple
- curtailment
- cut
- cutback
- dark age
- de-escalate
- de-escalation
- death
- debasement
- decadence
- decay
- decease
- decimation
- declension
- declination
- decline
- declivity
- decomposition
- decrease
- decrement
- deduction
- defeat
- defer to
- deflate
- deflation
- degeneracy
- degeneration
- degradation
- demise
- demolishment
- demolition
- dent
- depart
- depletion
- depreciate
- depreciation
- depression
- descend
- descent
- desolation
- destruction
- deterioration
- devolution
- die
- diminish
- diminishment
- diminution
- dip
- disappear
- disappointment
- disaster
- disgrace
- disintegration
- dissolution
- dive
- down
- downfall
- downgrade
- downhill
- downslide
- downtrend
- downturn
- downward slope
- drag
- droop
- drop
- drop down
- drop-off
- dry up
- dwindle
- dwindling
- ease
- eat dirt
- ebb
- eclipse
- end
- err
- evaporate
- exit
- expire
- fade
- fail
- failure
- fall away
- fall from grace
- fall to pieces
- falling-off
- falloff
- falter
- flag
- flameout
- flatline
- flop
- flume
- flump
- flunk
- fold
- fold up
- forfeit
- founder
- free-fall
- give in
- give out
- give up
- give up the ghost
- give way
- go
- go down
- go under
- gravitate
- hand over
- hang
- hanging
- havoc
- header
- heel
- hit the dirt
- hollow
- humiliation
- incline
- infringe
- keel
- keel over
- kick in
- kick off
- kick the bucket
- knuckle under
- land
- lapse
- lean
- lessen
- lessening
- let up
- lie down
- list
- lose
- loss
- lower
- lowering
- meltdown
- mess up
- miss
- misstep
- moderate
- nadir
- nose-dive
- nosedive
- obey
- occur
- offend
- pall
- part
- pass away
- pass into enemy hands
- peg out
- perish
- phase down
- pitch
- plonk
- plop
- plummet
- plummeting
- plunge
- plunk
- pop off
- pratfall
- precipitate
- predecease
- recede
- recession
- recline
- reduction
- regress
- relapse
- relax
- relent
- relinquish
- remit
- resign
- resignation
- retreat
- retrenchment
- reversal
- rotting
- ruin
- ruination
- sag
- setback
- settle
- shoot
- shortening
- shrink
- shrinkage
- shute
- sin
- sink
- sinking
- skid
- slacken
- slant
- slide
- slip
- slope
- slump
- snuff it
- spill
- spin
- spoiling
- step out
- step-down
- stray
- strike out
- stumble
- submit
- subside
- subtraction
- succumb
- sunset
- surrender
- take a header
- take place
- take the count
- tank
- taper
- taper off
- throw
- tilt
- tip
- tip over
- topple
- totter
- trail
- transgress
- trespass
- trip
- tumble
- undoing
- vanish
- violate
- wander
- wane
- wash out
- waterfall
- weaken
- white water
- wipe out
- yield