Thesaurus

balky

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of balky

given to resisting authority or another's control

a balky toddler who only seemed to know the word "no" when told to do something

Synonyms of balky

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

Words Related to balky

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

dissident, nonconformist

discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly

Near Antonyms of balky

acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging

behaved, disciplined, well-bred

courteous, polite, respectful

kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient

decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper

controllable, governable, manageable, trainable

Antonyms of balky

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

Synonym Discussion of balky

contrary, perverse, restive, balky, wayward mean inclined to resist authority or control. contrary implies a temperamental unwillingness to accept orders or advice.

- a contrary child

perverse may imply wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normal.

- a perverse, intractable critic

restive suggests unwillingness or inability to submit to discipline or follow orders.

- tired soldiers growing restive

balky suggests a refusing to proceed in a desired direction or course of action.

- a balky witness

wayward suggests strong-willed capriciousness and irregularity in behavior.

- a school for wayward youths

Learn More about balky

See words that rhyme with balky Dictionary: Definition of balky Spanish Central: Translation of balky Nglish: Translation of balky for Spanish speakers

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