contumacious

American  

[kon-too-mey-shuhs, -tyoo-] / ˌkɒn tʊˈmeɪ ʃəs, -tyʊ- /

adjective

1. stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient.

   Synonyms:

   intractable, headstrong, refractory, factious, pigheaded, contrary

---

contumacious British  

/ ˌkɒntjʊˈmeɪʃəs /

adjective

1. stubbornly resistant to authority; wilfully obstinate

---

Other Word Forms

• contumaciously adverb
• contumaciousness noun
• contumacity noun
• noncontumacious adjective
• noncontumaciously adverb
• noncontumaciousness noun
• uncontumacious adjective
• uncontumaciously adverb
• uncontumaciousness noun

Etymology

Origin of contumacious

First recorded in 1590–1600; contumacy + -ous

Example Sentences

He urged Merchan to warn Trump “that his recent conduct is contumacious and direct him to immediately desist.”

From Seattle Times • Mar. 29, 2024

Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, who served on special counsel Bob Mueller's team, said it was "interesting" that Chutkan excused Trump's presence at the hearing "given his dangerous and contumacious social media posts."

From Salon • Aug. 8, 2023

“Mr. Donziger’s conduct was a pattern of contumacious behavior that bore out over the better part of a decade,” Preska said.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 1, 2021

Thus Horse Doctor Doyle had been contumacious, since actual bribery was the subject of his case.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thompson, Samel, and Swanson, however, are contumacious Alaskans with a special fondness for driving motor vehicles where motor vehicles aren’t really designed to be driven.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer