obedient people

[ə-ˈbē-dē-ənt ˈpē-pəl]
noun phrasepl: obedient people
pessoas obedientes
1. individuals who comply with rules, orders, or authority without resistance
The obedient people followed the new regulations without question.
As pessoas obedientes seguiram as novas regulamentações sem questionar.
2. groups characterized by submission to rules or leadership
A society of obedient people is often easier to govern but may lack innovation.
Uma sociedade de pessoas obedientes é frequentemente mais fácil de governar, mas pode carecer de inovação.
In Brazilian culture, there is often tension between valuing obedience and respect for authority versus the cultural emphasis on jogo de cintura (flexibility and creative problem-solving). In American culture, obedience is often viewed more skeptically, with emphasis placed on individual autonomy and questioning authority.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
compliant peoplesubmissive peopledutiful peoplecooperative peopledocile people
Antonyms / Antônimos
rebellious peopledefiant peopleinsubordinate peopledisobedient people

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pessoas obedientes
Standard usage throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
povo obediente
Often used in more collective or social contexts
São Paulo
pessoas obedientes
Standard formal usage in business and academic contexts
Portugal
pessoas obedientes
Identical usage; no significant regional variation

Related Words

obedienceobeycompliancesubordinatedisciplineauthority

Related Idioms & Phrases

follow orders to the letter
toe the line
play by the rules
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