refractory

¹re·frac·to·ry

adjective \ri-ˈfrak-t(ə-)rē\

Definition of REFRACTORY

1

: resisting control or authority : stubborn, unmanageable

2

a : resistant to treatment or cure <a refractory lesion>

b : unresponsive to stimulus

c : immune, insusceptible <after recovery they were refractory to infection>

3

: difficult to fuse, corrode, or draw out; especially : capable of enduring high temperature

— re·frac·to·ri·ly \-t(ə-)rə-lē; ˌrē-ˌfrak-ˈtȯr-ə-lē, ri-\ adverb

— re·frac·to·ri·ness \ri-ˈfrak-t(ə-)rē-nəs\ noun

Examples of REFRACTORY

1. <refractory players will be ejected from the game>
2. <believing that rules are only for other people, he's been refractory virtually his entire life>

Origin of REFRACTORY

alteration of refractary, from Latin refractarius, irregular from refragari to oppose, from re- + -fragari (as in suffragari to support with one's vote)

First Known Use: 1606

Related to REFRACTORY

Synonyms

balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, disobedient, restive, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)

Antonyms

amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable

Related Words

noncooperative, uncooperative; insurgent, mutinous; adamant, adamantine, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, negativistic, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding; fractious, restive, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild; perverse, resistant, wrongheaded; bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, monkeying, monkeyish, naughty; undisciplined; dissident, nonconformist; discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly

Near Antonyms

acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging; yielding; behaved, disciplined, well-bred; courteous, polite, respectful; kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient; decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper; controllable, governable, manageable, trainable

See Synonym Discussion at unruly

²refractory

noun

plural refractories

Definition of REFRACTORY

: a refractory person or thing; especially : a heat-resisting ceramic material

First Known Use of REFRACTORY

1627

re·frac·to·ry

adjective \ri-ˈfrak-t(ə-)rē\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of REFRACTORY

1

: resistant to treatment or cure <a refractory fulminant lesion> <had disease that was extremely refractory to multiple intensive therapies—Michelle L. Bennett et al>

2

: unresponsive to stimulus <the refractory period of a muscle fiber>

3

: resistant or not responding to an infectious agent : immune <refractory to reinfection>

refractory

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Material that is not deformed or damaged by high temperatures, used to make crucibles, incinerators, insulation, and furnaces, particularly metallurgical furnaces. Refractories are produced in several forms: molded bricks of various shapes, bulk granular materials, plastic mixtures consisting of moistened aggregates that are rammed into place, castables composed of dry aggregates and a binder that can be mixed with water and poured like concrete, and mortars and cements for laying brickwork.