Meaning & use
well-disciplined
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
behaving in a controlled and orderly way, because of training or good habits
Grammar: Can be used before a noun ('a well-disciplined class') or after a linking verb ('The class was well-disciplined.').
Patterns
- a well-disciplined team
- well-disciplined children
- remain well-disciplined
The teacher was proud of her well-disciplined class, who worked quietly all afternoon.
A well-disciplined army follows orders without hesitation.
Even after a long trip, the children stayed well-disciplined and polite.
adjectivecomparable
showing careful control over your own behavior, especially work or study habits
Grammar: Used to describe a person's character or habits, e.g. 'a well-disciplined student'.
Patterns
- a well-disciplined student
- well-disciplined habits
- be well-disciplined about something
She is very well-disciplined about finishing her assignments early.
Well-disciplined learners review their notes every week.
He became more well-disciplined after he started training for the marathon.
Word forms
| comparative | more well-disciplined |
|---|---|
| superlative | most well-disciplined |
Common combinations
- a well-disciplined team
- The coach built a well-disciplined team that rarely made mistakes.
- well-disciplined children
- The well-disciplined children lined up without being asked.
- well-disciplined habits
- Good grades come from well-disciplined habits, not luck.
- remain well-disciplined
- The soldiers remained well-disciplined throughout the long march.
Synonyms and how they differ
- orderly
- Describes neat, organized behavior or arrangement; it focuses on the lack of mess rather than on training or self-control.
- self-controlled
- Focuses on a person's inner ability to control emotions and desires, not on following rules or orders.
- obedient
- Means doing what you are told; it can sound negative, suggesting someone who never questions orders, while 'well-disciplined' is usually positive.
Opposites
Word family
- discipline noun
- Controlled behavior, or the training that produces it.
- disciplined adjective
- Showing control and order; 'well-disciplined' adds the idea of doing this well.
- disciplinary adjective
- Relating to punishment for breaking rules, as in 'disciplinary action'.
Commonly confused: well-disciplined or self-disciplined?
well-disciplined vs self-disciplined
'Self-disciplined' means controlling your own behavior without outside help, while 'well-disciplined' can also describe a group that follows rules or orders.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'well-disciplined' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Well-disciplined' is an adjective, so it fits after 'was' to describe the team. The other options use it as a noun or verb, which is not correct.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “well-disciplined”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.