Undisciplined: meaning, definitions and examples

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undisciplined

 

[ ˌʌndɪˈsɪplɪnd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

behavior

Lacking in discipline or self-control; unruly or disobedient.

Synonyms

disobedient, uncontrolled, unruly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
undisciplined

Describes someone or something that lacks discipline. Often used in contexts related to behavior that is not controlled or structured.

  • The undisciplined student often disrupts the class.
  • His undisciplined approach to work has caused many issues.
unruly

Implying disruptiveness and a tendency to create trouble, typically in contexts related to behavior that defies control or rules.

  • The unruly crowd caused chaos at the concert.
  • She struggled to manage her unruly hair.
disobedient

Refers to refusing to obey rules or someone in authority, usually in the context of children, pets, or subordinates.

  • The disobedient child refused to follow the teacher's instructions.
  • Her dog is disobedient and never comes when called.
uncontrolled

Describes something that is not controlled, often used for emotions, reactions, or situations that are chaotic.

  • The uncontrolled fire spread quickly through the forest.
  • He reacted with uncontrolled anger when he heard the news.

Examples of usage

  • He was often punished for his undisciplined behavior in class.
  • The undisciplined child ran around the restaurant, causing chaos.
Context #2 | Adjective

work ethic

Not following a strict set of rules or guidelines; lacking in organization or structure.

Synonyms

careless, chaotic, disorganized.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
undisciplined

Use this word to describe someone who lacks control over their behavior or actions, often failing to follow rules or maintain order. It's typically used in evaluations of personal traits or behaviors and can have a negative connotation.

  • The undisciplined student frequently disrupted the class
  • His undisciplined approach to work led to numerous mistakes
disorganized

This word is used for people or places that lack structure, resulting in confusion and inefficiency. It can describe both personal habits and physical spaces, usually with an emphasis on chronic or frequent issues.

  • His disorganized workspace made it hard for him to find anything
  • She was disorganized and always late to meetings
chaotic

Use this word to describe situations or environments that are extremely disorganized and unpredictable. It refers to a state of complete confusion and lack of order. This term usually describes temporary situations rather than personal traits.

  • The office was chaotic after the manager quit
  • The situation in the city became chaotic during the protest
careless

This word describes someone who does things without enough attention or thought, often resulting in mistakes. It can be applied to both specific actions and general behavior, and usually carries a negative connotation.

  • She made a careless error on her tax return
  • His careless driving caused the accident

Examples of usage

  • His undisciplined approach to work often resulted in missed deadlines.
  • The undisciplined nature of the project led to confusion among team members.

Translations

Translations of the word "undisciplined" in other languages:

🇵🇹 indisciplinado

🇮🇳 अनुशासनहीन

🇩🇪 undiszipliniert

🇮🇩 tidak disiplin

🇺🇦 недисциплінований

🇵🇱 niedyscyplinowany

🇯🇵 無秩序な

🇫🇷 indiscipliné

🇪🇸 indisciplinado

🇹🇷 disiplinsiz

🇰🇷 무질서한

🇸🇦 غير منضبط

🇨🇿 nedisciplinovaný

🇸🇰 nedisciplinovaný

🇨🇳 不守纪律

🇸🇮 nediscipliniran

🇮🇸 óagaður

🇰🇿 тәртіпсіз

🇬🇪 უდისციპლინო

🇦🇿 intizamsız

🇲🇽 indisciplinado

Etymology

The word 'undisciplined' originated from the combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'disciplined' which comes from the Latin word 'disciplina' meaning 'instruction' or 'knowledge'. Over time, 'undisciplined' has come to represent a lack of control or order in various aspects of life.

See also: disciplinary, disciplined, disciplines, disciplining.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,546, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.