un ‧ ru ‧ ly /ʌnˈruːli/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ rule , ↑ ruler , ↑ ruling , ↑ unruliness ; adjective : ↑ ruling , ↑ unruly , ↑ ruled ; verb : ↑ rule , ↑ overrule ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: ruly 'behaving well' (15-21 centuries) , from rule ]
1 . violent or difficult to control SYN wild :
unruly children
unruly behaviour
2 . unruly hair is difficult to keep tidy
—unruliness noun [uncountable]