recalcitrant

[ ri-kal-si-truhnt ]
/ rɪˈkæl sɪ trənt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR recalcitrant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; refractory.
hard to deal with, manage, or operate.

noun

a recalcitrant person.

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Origin of recalcitrant

1835–45; < 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

OTHER WORDS FROM recalcitrant

Words nearby recalcitrant

rec, rec room, rec., rec. sec., recalcification, recalcitrant, recalcitrate, recalculate, recalesce, recalescence, recall
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to recalcitrant

wayward, obstinate, fractious, rebellious, unruly, contrary, contumacious, defiant, indomitable, insubordinate, intractable, opposing, radical, refractory, resistant, stubborn, undisciplined, ungovernable, unmanageable, untoward

Example sentences from the Web for recalcitrant

British Dictionary definitions for recalcitrant

recalcitrant
/ (rɪˈkælsɪtrənt) /

adjective

not susceptible to control or authority; refractory

noun

a recalcitrant person

Derived forms of recalcitrant

recalcitrance, noun

Word Origin for recalcitrant

C19: via French from Latin recalcitrāre, from re- + calcitrāre to kick, from calx heel
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