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