renitent

[ri-nahyt-nt, ren-i-tuh nt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR renitent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

resisting pressure; resistant.

persistently opposing; recalcitrant.

Origin of renitent

1695–1705; < Latin renītent- (stem of renītēns), present participle of renītī to resist, equivalent to re- re- + nīt(ī) to strive, make an effort + -ent- -ent

Related formsre·ni·ten·cy, re·ni·tence, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for renitent

contrary, defiant, disobedient, opposing, rebellious, resisting, resistive, unyielding

British Dictionary definitions for renitent

renitent

adjective rare

reluctant; recalcitrant

not flexible

Derived Formsrenitence or renitency, noun

Word Origin for renitent

C18: from Latin renītī to strive afresh, from re- + nītī to endeavour

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