CONTUMACIOUS Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

contumacious

adjective

ˌkän-tü-ˈmā-shəs

Definition of contumacious

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control the judge threatened to charge the contumacious witness with contempt of court

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for contumacious

Adjective

The tech world has always had a self-consciously rebellious relationship with societal norms.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2026
Costarring Katey Sagal, Amy Davidson, James Garner, and David Spade, the series followed the futile attempts of Ritter’s Paul Hennessy and Sagal’s Cate Hennessy to tame their rebellious teenage daughter, Bridget (Cuoco).

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of rebellious

Adjective

Taylor, who led the rebel movement before becoming Liberia's president, was later convicted of aiding and abetting crimes committed by rebel forces in neighboring Sierra Leone.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
The city, traditionally a key cultural center, is also home to around 1 million people and in 2014 became a hub of anti-Houthi resistance after the rebel group seized the capital Sanaa.

— David Brennan, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of rebel

Adjective

Within 48 hours after Scott’s death, a photo of Winston — shirtless and defiant — made international news.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026
Teams — worried about how a politically defiant Black quarterback on the roster would impact their bottom lines — over the next several seasons signed dozens of inferior quarterbacks to round out their depth charts.

— Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of defiant

Adjective

The title refers not only to the horror film my protagonist, Maya, is trying to make, but also to the city’s new masters and to those living in a zombified state of willful ignorance.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Judge Darren Steele said the state amended a charge of willful, wanton reckless driving – second offense, adjudication of guilt that carried a $1,000 fine.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of willful

Adjective

Apple's stubborn insistence on keeping base iPhones at 60Hz while budget Android phones offer zippier refresh rates has always baffled me.

— Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
Bigger paychecks sought While the economy may be showing signs of acceleration, stubborn inflation has eroded Americans’ take-home pay.

— Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of stubborn

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controverts

contumacious

contumacy

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“Contumacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contumacious. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of contumacious

adjective

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