recalcitrant

[ ri-kal-si-truhnt ]
/ rɪˈkæl sɪ trənt /

adjective

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

noun

a recalcitrant person.

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

SYNONYMS FOR recalcitrant

1 resistant, rebellious, opposed. See unruly.

OTHER WORDS FROM recalcitrant

Words nearby recalcitrant

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