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definitions

contumacious

[kon-too-mey-shuhs, -tyoo-]
See more synonyms for contumacious on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. 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 for contumacious

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contrary, pigheaded, factious, refractory, headstrong, intractable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for contumacious

alienated, contrary, disaffected, factious, froward, haughty, inflexible, insubordinate, insurgent, intractable, intransigent, irreconcilable, mutinous, obdurate, perverse, pig-headed, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, seditious

Examples from the Web for contumacious

Historical Examples of contumacious

  • 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.

  • “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
  1. 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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper