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balkiness

noun

Definition of balkinessnext
as in rebellion
refusal to obey the teen's unrelenting balkiness was truly frustrating

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for balkiness
  1. rebellion
  2. defiance
  3. willfulness
  4. disrespect
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Yudkowsky took such tropes of rebellion and rule-breaking and built a philosophical apparatus around them.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The Uprising’s final act does get unwieldy, as the director tries to show just how the rebellion was betrayed.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of rebellion
Noun
  • This defiance can be thought of as a refusal to feel shame—or, at least, as the confidence to believe that the shamers are wrong.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2026
  • This, itself, is the ultimate act of defiance in the face of America’s neverending frontier.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of defiance
Noun
  • Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.
    — Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
Definition of willfulness
Noun
  • The board's vague message didn't point to specific administrators or specific instances of disrespect.
    — Aubrey Wright, IndyStar, 11 Sep. 2026
  • No disrespect to the players themselves, Burns said, but Dallas showing that level of concern this close to the start of the season is noteworthy.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of disrespect
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

balked (at)
balkiness
balking
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Cite this Entry

“Balkiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balkiness. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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