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

1. <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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