1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the manager worried that the recalcitrant employee would try to undermine his authority
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2
as in stubborn
given to resisting control or discipline by others
a heart-to-heart talk with the recalcitrant youth revealed that he had a troubled life at home
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Recent Examples of recalcitrant
Whitmer and recalcitrant lawmakers deserve an equal share of the blame for the lame duck flameout.
—
M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
The United States has long sought to deport immigrants to third countries when their own home nation is recalcitrant or won't accept their own deportees.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 July 2025
Trustees recently discussed options, including trying to convince the four recalcitrant property owners to share in the cost of replacing the lines.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025
This version of it will be complex, with significant power wielded by the United States and China but with major roles for other players, including an increasingly autonomous Europe, a recalcitrant Russia, and an ever more powerful India.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
The United States has long sought to deport immigrants to third countries when their own home nation is recalcitrant or won't accept their own deportees.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 July 2025
Trustees recently discussed options, including trying to convince the four recalcitrant property owners to share in the cost of replacing the lines.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025
This version of it will be complex, with significant power wielded by the United States and China but with major roles for other players, including an increasingly autonomous Europe, a recalcitrant Russia, and an ever more powerful India.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recalcitrant
Adjective
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The Opry had been wary of Cash's rebellious ways for some time, but this was the final straw.—
Audrey Gibbs,
The Tennessean,
28 Aug. 2025
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Cole is the rebellious cool older brother with a secret heart of gold, while Alex is the reliable nerdy and sweet one who wants to come out from Cole's shadow.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Myth That Won’t Die: 'Nobody Scrolls' For years, there’s been this stubborn idea in web design that everything important has to be above the fold.—
Talie Smith,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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Fire signs are assertive, passionate and creative; Earth signs are dependable, stubborn and grounded; Air signs are curious intellectuals with a knack for socializing, and Water signs are known to tap into universal undercurrents, navigating emotions.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Originally, the many rebel groups fighting Assad’s forces included both secular and Islamic militias.—
Rami Zeedan,
The Conversation,
11 Aug. 2025
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After all, in Andor, a rebel alliance pushes back against an emperor.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Still, Iran’s distrust of Western countries and the endurance of the regime under dire circumstances mean that even this tool will have limited efficacy in terms of constraining an intractable Iranian leadership.—
Suzanne Maloney,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
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This presents a promising path for delivering systems with the large numbers of logical qubits necessary to solve today’s intractable problems.—
Paul Terry,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Adjective
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But New Delhi has been defiant, saying that Russian oil is necessary for the energy security of its 1.4 billion-strong population.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
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The character’s defiant self-possession would unnerve even a more contemporary patriarchy, and challenge family dynamics in any era.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This is, by far, the most common TES approach in industry, with most companies using legacy technologies like refractory bricks and molten salt to store heat in insulated shipping containers.—
Erik Kobayashi-Solomon,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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This is due to a rare condition called refractory celiac disease, which requires specialized treatment.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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For these folks, this week’s bizarre introduction to the business side of MLS and international football may feel like a wayward soccer ball to the chops.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 July 2025
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When Anisimova got to the ball on the deuce side, her forehand was wayward.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Now, however, the United States is spiraling into a rapid and uncontrollable drawdown of its assets, pursuing short-term goals at the expense of long-term objectives.—
HENRY FARRELL,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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The development also sparked an even bigger discussion about growth in Concord becoming uncontrollable.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recalcitrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recalcitrant. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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