as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
a balky toddler who only seemed to know the word "no" when told to do something
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Recent Examples of balky
Missing the final week in Arizona with a balky back didn’t keep centerfielder Jung Hoo Lee off the Giants’ Opening Day roster, but in somewhat of a surprise, infielder Christian Koss will be on the bench in Cincinnati instead of outfielder Grant McCray or infielder Brett Wisely.
—
Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
But Musgrove’s balky elbow finally gave out in the wild-card series against the Braves.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Starting guard Norman Powell, who returned to the court after missing five games because of a balky left knee, headed to the locker room after playing nine minutes because of a sore right hamstring.
—Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2025
Does that seem likely given Aaron Gordon’s balky calf, Jamal Murray’s necessary rest maintenance, Peyton Watson’s knee issue and Jokic’s career high in minutes logged?
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balky
Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
But Musgrove’s balky elbow finally gave out in the wild-card series against the Braves.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Starting guard Norman Powell, who returned to the court after missing five games because of a balky left knee, headed to the locker room after playing nine minutes because of a sore right hamstring.
—Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2025
Does that seem likely given Aaron Gordon’s balky calf, Jamal Murray’s necessary rest maintenance, Peyton Watson’s knee issue and Jokic’s career high in minutes logged?
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balky
Adjective
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Still, Adams failed to outright ask the most important questions: Were Canadians ever willing to join the rebellious Thirteen Colonies?—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 May 2025
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Libra: Marge Simpson from The Simpsons Only a Libra mother could calmly and miraculously put up with the shenanigans that her three rebellious children cause.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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President Trump met with former rebel leader turned new president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2025
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Incidents of violence by rebel groups fell from 1,936 in 2010 to 374 in 2024, according to data from the home ministry.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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The defiant message comes after weeks of intense news coverage and a Republican House committee investigation into Hope Florida and its nonprofit charity arm, the Hope Florida Foundation.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2025
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For weeks, Chinese officials had projected a defiant position, demanding the US remove all tariffs on China before agreeing to come to the negotiation table.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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When tragedy strikes on Michigan roads—when a car skids off an icy bend or a semi-truck barrels through a red light—victims are often left to face not only devastating injuries but also a daunting legal maze of corporate denials and stubborn insurers.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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Get The Recipe Smart Move Similar recipes with beans and peas existed before then, but a challenge made to a stubborn chef named Helen Corbitt spurred the creation of Texas caviar.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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Big cars, bigger trucks, two-dimensional women, recalcitrant men.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
9 May 2025
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While the markets have not responded kindly, the White House insists the tariffs are bringing recalcitrant nations to the bargaining table.—
Lexi Lonas Cochran,
The Hill,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Baldwin feels that such a response in the face of violence has to be a posture, an outright lie or a willful evasiveness.—
Andrew Moore,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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Reyes-Estrada was booked on suspicion of murder and willful harm and injury to a child likely to produce great bodily injury and is being held without bail, according to the news release.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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All at once, Vance had made an obstreperous return to the center of the national stage—and so did the memes.—
Jessica Winter,
The New Yorker,
19 Mar. 2025
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In some ways, Paul has been less obstreperous than them.—
Eric Cortellessa,
TIME,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Without preferred lies in place, many of the best players in the world hit wayward shots.—
Savannah Leigh Richardson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 May 2025
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Since the operation began on April 28, cops have handed out 916 criminal court summonses against wayward e-bikers — nearly double the amount that was given out all last year, the NYPD said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balky. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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