Synonyms of balky

balky

adjective

ˈbȯ-kē 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebellious
• rebel
• stubborn
• defiant
• recalcitrant
• obstreperous
• wayward
• willful
• intractable
• dogged
• rigid
• unruly
• restive
• contrary
• refractory
• disobedient
• contumacious
• adamant
• mischievous
• naughty
• insubordinate
• ungovernable
• bad
• uncooperative
• unrelenting
• froward
• incompliant
• uncontrollable
• untoward
• resistant
• dissident
• insurgent
• rude
• wild
• peevish
• obstinate
• recusant
• noncooperative
• mutinous
• obdurate
• unmanageable
• inflexible
• fractious
• mulish
• implacable
• monkeying
• unbending
• immovable
• unyielding
• errant
• uncompromising
• headstrong
• hardheaded
• opinionated
• negativistic
• adamantine
• wrongheaded
• pertinacious
• ornery
• pigheaded
• undisciplined
• disorderly
• discourteous
• perverse
• impudent
• ungracious
• disrespectful
• misbehaving
• uncouth
• inconsiderate
• insolent
• impolite
• self-willed
• unmannerly
• nonconformist
• uncivil
• impertinent
• ill-mannered
• monkeyish
• ill-natured
• ill-bred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amenable
• cooperative
• docile
• tractable
• compliant
• obedient
• amiable
• submissive
• agreeable
• deferential
• conformable
• acquiescent
• behaved
• biddable
• yielding
• courteous
• obliging
• well-bred
• polite
• disciplined
• ruly
• servile
• proper
• obsequious
• respectful
• slavish
• subservient
• controllable
• orderly
• manageable
• decorous
• mannerly
• trainable
• kowtowing
• governable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective balky contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of balky are contrary, perverse, restive, and wayward. While all these words mean "inclined to resist authority or control," balky suggests a refusing to proceed in a desired direction or course of action.

a balky witness

When would contrary be a good substitute for balky?

While in some cases nearly identical to balky, contrary implies a temperamental unwillingness to accept orders or advice.

a contrary child

In what contexts can perverse take the place of balky?

While the synonyms perverse and balky are close in meaning, perverse may imply wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normal.

a perverse, intractable critic

When is it sensible to use restive instead of balky?

Although the words restive and balky have much in common, restive suggests unwillingness or inability to submit to discipline or follow orders.

tired soldiers growing restive

When is wayward a more appropriate choice than balky?

The words wayward and balky can be used in similar contexts, but wayward suggests strong-willed capriciousness and irregularity in behavior.

a school for wayward youths

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of balky

Oh, and Aaron Rodgers is happy to know Cincy’s top pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is iffy to play on a short week with a balky back. —Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025

Electrify America and other providers took a lot of heat for balky or out-of-service chargers, especially compared with Tesla’s reliable network. —IEEE Spectrum, 2 Sep. 2025

The Rams’ standout quarterback participated in a team workout on Monday for the first time since camp opened, as Stafford and L.A. manages his balky back. —Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

And there are myriad issues for SpaceX's engineers to solve, from engine reliability and the ship's resonant frequency, to beefing up the ship's heat shield and fixing its balky payload bay door. —ArsTechnica, 19 June 2025