contumacious

adjective

ˌkän-tü-ˈmā-shəs How to pronounce contumacious (audio)
Definition of contumaciousnext
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control the judge threatened to charge the contumacious witness with contempt of court

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contumacious
  1. rebellious
  2. rebel
  3. defiant
  4. willful
  5. stubborn
Adjective
  • The selection also features Dutch director Sabine Lubbe Bakker’s Premier Souffle, exploring whether a rebellious outsider can find her place in the world after years of isolation from her community.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Five years earlier my brother had gotten married, leaving me home alone without the buffers of his distracted affection, his big brotherly insouciance, his rebellious indifference to the emotional chasm widening between our parents.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • Mahershala Ali leads the resistance against the malevolent powers that be as a rebel bandit.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Since early 2025, the March 23 Movement, a rebel group, has seized control of large parts of the park, fueling poaching, deforestation and trafficking.
    — Elodie Toto, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of rebel
Adjective
  • Macklemore's defiant remarks drew mixed reactions online, with some social media users applauding his outspoken activism while others questioned his motives and accused him of being out of touch.
    — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Israeli and American leaders have been sharpening their threats before elections in both countries, while Iranian leaders have remained defiant.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of defiant
Adjective
  • The smaller company won, with a jury determining willful infringement and a district court granting a permanent injunction preventing further sales.
    — Coke Morgan Stewart, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Under federal law, citizenship obtained through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation can be revoked through civil denaturalization proceedings.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of willful
Adjective
  • An honor that seems to bring things full circle for that stubborn little girl who dreamed of performing on stages around the world from her farm.
    — Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
  • How To Remove Leaf Stains With Chlorine Bleach Bleach is very effective at removing stubborn leaf stains, along with mildew and moss.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stubborn
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

controverts
contumacious
contumacy
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Cite this Entry

“Contumacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contumacious. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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