recalcitrant
Americanadjective
-
resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; refractory.
- Synonyms:
- opposed, rebellious, resistant
-
hard to deal with, manage, or operate.
noun
adjective
noun
Related Words
See unruly.
Other Word Forms
- nonrecalcitrance noun
- nonrecalcitrancy noun
- nonrecalcitrant adjective
- recalcitrance noun
- recalcitrancy noun
- unrecalcitrant adjective
Etymology
Origin of recalcitrant
First recorded in 1835–45; from Latin recalcitrant- (stem of recalcitrāns, present participle of recalcitrāre “to kick back”), equivalent to re- re- + calcitr(āre) “to strike with the heels, kick” (derivative of calx “heel”) + -ant- -ant
Explanation
If someone is so pig-headed that he won't budge on an issue, call him recalcitrant. Not that it will make a difference... Recalcitrant is from Latin calcitrare, meaning "to kick," so someone who is recalcitrant is kicking back against what's wanted of them. Synonyms are unruly, intractable, and refractory, all referring to what is difficult to manage or control. Writers are frequently referring to recalcitrant Democrats and Republicans, since many people are stubbornly loyal to their political parties and unwilling to change.
Vocabulary lists containing recalcitrant
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Grade 12, List 4
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National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms. Goldstein imagines a sweet spot that allows us to “objectively distinguish between better and worse ways to satisfy the longing to matter” while being “expansive enough to accommodate us in all our recalcitrant diversity.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026
Maybe it is just a bunch of recalcitrant teenagers.
From Salon • Dec. 16, 2024
The state government must expand the scope and speed of land-use reforms, with all cities, including wealthy and recalcitrant enclaves, doing their part.
From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2024
"The first and hardest battle was to change mentality. His job was rendered difficult by recalcitrant culture."
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2024
Like a recalcitrant child, however, color in art refuses to be governed by any rules.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
