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
  • While many may remember Cooter as a gregarious good ‘ol boy, the character had a wild, rebellious side in the first season of the show.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2026
  • In a somewhat rebellious moment, Meghan attended her first Trooping the Colour ceremony wearing an off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • Access to healthcare in the region already had been challenged by years of rebel conflict in one of Congo’s most remote and vulnerable areas, near the borders of South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Houthis are one of several Iranian proxies that have threatened to widen the conflict with the rebel group striking commercial shipping and recently ramping up attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.
    — Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of rebel
Adjective
  • Bea will play Julia Hanley, a defiant and magnetic Irish photographer who sees past Tom’s world-changing ambition to the man beneath it, redefining his life through love.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Aegon will have none of it and begins his rousing, defiant speech.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of defiant
Adjective
  • The emotional Moon moves through your 10th House of Career and squares the willful Sun in your 1st House of Identity.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The pro-Trump media’s attitude, though, borders on willful ignorance.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of willful
Adjective
  • Volatile job numbers, stubborn inflation and changes to the Fed’s communications style are all stirring up uncertainty in markets and raising the stakes for upcoming economic data releases — including this week’s inflation report.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The softening job market may complicate the calculation for the Federal Reserve, which is also battling stubborn inflation.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 7 Aug. 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 13 Aug. 2026.

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