contumacy
con·tu·ma·cy
noun\kən-ˈtü-mə-sē, -ˈtyü-; ˈkän-tü-, -tyü-, -chə-\
Definition of CONTUMACY
: stubborn resistance to authority; specifically : willful contempt of court
Examples of CONTUMACY
- <a rogue archbishop who was excommunicated on grounds of contumacy>
Origin of CONTUMACY
Middle English contumacie, from Anglo-French, from Latin contumacia, from contumac-, contumax rebellious
First Known Use: 13th century
Related to CONTUMACY
Synonyms: balkiness, contrariness, disobedience, defiance, frowardness, insubordination, intractability, obstreperousness, rebellion, rebelliousness, recalcitrance, refractoriness, unruliness, waywardness, willfulness
Antonyms: compliance, obedience, submission, subordinateness, subordination, tractability, tractableness
Related Words: civil disobedience, noncooperation; discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness; doggedness, hardheadedness, mulishness, obduracy, obdurateness, obstinacy, obstinateness, peevishness, pertinaciousness, pertinacity, perversity, pigheadedness, self-will, stubbornness, tenaciousness, tenacity; knavery, mischievousness, naughtiness
Near Antonyms: agreeability, amenability, amiability; slavishness, submissiveness, subservience, subserviency; trainability; deference, docility, dutifulness
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