recalcitrance

noun

re·​cal·​ci·​trance ri-ˈkal-sə-trən(t)s How to pronounce recalcitrance (audio)
: the state of being recalcitrant

Example Sentences

punished her recalcitrance by taking away her driving privileges
Recent Examples on the Web As the number of migrants rose, European ambivalence turned to recalcitrance. Ian Urbina, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2021 The United Kingdom and Poland challenged Germany’s recalcitrance earlier this month, when the two countries respectively offered Ukraine around a dozen each of their Challenger 2 and Leopard 2 tanks. David Axe, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2023 Undaunted by IMDb’s recalcitrance and Hoang’s litigation defeat, SAG-AFTRA went to Sacramento to pursue its members’ cause. Douglas Mirell, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Dec. 2022 There simply is no other mythological character that embodies the spirit of recalcitrance in the face of tyranny. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2022 Proponents of burying the remaining Romanov children alongside the rest of their family have argued that the church's recalcitrance is a matter of political maneuvering over feeling sidelined from earlier investigations. Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 19 Nov. 2022 One wonders if there were voices of dissent in the private sector, or how chief executives responded to the environmentalists with anything other than recalcitrance. Matthew Dallek, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2022 China’s recent recalcitrance on climate issues stemming from tensions with the U.S. over Taiwan has added to the challenge. Sumant Sinha, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2022 There was a 20-year track record of recalcitrance, after all. Frederick Reimers, Outside Online, 3 Oct. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recalcitrance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recalcitrance was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near recalcitrance

Cite this Entry

“Recalcitrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recalcitrance. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

recalcitrance

noun
re·​cal·​ci·​trance ri-ˈkal-sə-trən(t)s How to pronounce recalcitrance (audio)
: the state of being recalcitrant

More from Merriam-Webster on recalcitrance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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