obedience
In most cases, this word is used as an uncountable noun to describe the act of following rules (e.g., "blind obedience"). When referring to a religious group, it is used as a countable noun and can be singular or plural. It is generally a formal word. In casual conversation, people often use 'listening' or 'doing what you're told' instead.
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Tuesday afternoon, Sarah and Mark are sitting in the same open-plan office but texting to avoid being seen talking.
Mark
David's on a warpath. He expects total obedience with this new brief.
Sarah
Hard pass. I'm not playing along with his power trip today.
💡
Mark uses 'on a warpath' (an idiom meaning extremely angry and looking for someone to blame) to describe their boss. Sarah responds with 'hard pass' (slang for a firm refusal) and 'playing along' (phrasal verb meaning to pretend to agree), highlighting her exhaustion and resistance to David's demand for obedience.