contumacious

[kon-too-mey-shuh s, -tyoo-]

See more synonyms for contumacious on Thesaurus.com

adjective

stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient.

Origin of contumacious

First recorded in 1590–1600; contumacy + -ous

Related formscon·tu·ma·cious·ly, adverbcon·tu·ma·cious·ness, con·tu·mac·i·ty

[kon-too-mas-i-tee, -tyoo-] /ˌkɒn tʊˈmæs ɪ ti, -tyʊ-/, nounnon·con·tu·ma·cious, adjectivenon·con·tu·ma·cious·ly, adverbnon·con·tu·ma·cious·ness, nounun·con·tu·ma·cious, adjectiveun·con·tu·ma·cious·ly, adverbun·con·tu·ma·cious·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for contumacious on Thesaurus.com

contrary, pigheaded, factious, refractory, headstrong, intractable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for contumacious

Historical Examples

But if I were to be contumacious, I might thank myself for all that would follow.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
But, the cardinal declared Huss contumacious, and excommunicated him accordingly.
Fox's Book of Martyrs
John Foxe
“Countess, if thou be contumacious, I cannot shelter thee,” said Leo sternly.
One Snowy Night
Emily Sarah Holt
Hugh simply added excommunication to the contumacious deacon.
Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln
Charles L. Marson
Audrey was inclined to be contumacious, but she would not yield the matter so meekly.
Lover or Friend
Rosa Nouchette Carey

British Dictionary definitions for contumacious

contumacious

adjective

stubbornly resistant to authority; wilfully obstinate

Derived Formscontumaciously, adverbcontumaciousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for contumacious

adj.

c.1600, from Latin contumaci-, stem of contumax "haughty, insolent, obstinate" (see contumely) + -ous.

contumacious

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}contumacious

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for contumacious

Historical Examples

But if I were to be contumacious, I might thank myself for all that would follow.

But, the cardinal declared Huss contumacious, and excommunicated him accordingly.

“Countess, if thou be contumacious, I cannot shelter thee,” said Leo sternly.

Hugh simply added excommunication to the contumacious deacon.

Audrey was inclined to be contumacious, but she would not yield the matter so meekly.

contumacious

Word Origin and History for contumacious

adj.

Origin of contumacious