1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the manager worried that the recalcitrant employee would try to undermine his authority
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2
as in stubborn
given to resisting control or discipline by others
a heart-to-heart talk with the recalcitrant youth revealed that he had a troubled life at home
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Recent Examples of recalcitrant
The first two questions would streamline approvals for housing developments, while the third would establish an Affordable Housing Appeals Board that could override a recalcitrant City Council.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 July 2025
Whitmer and recalcitrant lawmakers deserve an equal share of the blame for the lame duck flameout.
—M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
The United States has long sought to deport immigrants to third countries when their own home nation is recalcitrant or won't accept their own deportees.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 July 2025
Trustees recently discussed options, including trying to convince the four recalcitrant property owners to share in the cost of replacing the lines.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 July 2025
Whitmer and recalcitrant lawmakers deserve an equal share of the blame for the lame duck flameout.
—M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
The United States has long sought to deport immigrants to third countries when their own home nation is recalcitrant or won't accept their own deportees.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 July 2025
Trustees recently discussed options, including trying to convince the four recalcitrant property owners to share in the cost of replacing the lines.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recalcitrant
Adjective
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Written by Kaitlin Reilly and Dorian Keyes, the film follows a rebellious bad boy and a type-A overachiever who join forces to win the student body presidency – and maybe each other’s hearts along the way.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
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In business, as in life, there are times when conformity is an asset, but in others, embracing your individuality, inhabiting your rebellious spirit and being a true trailblazer are what lead to success.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Of all the bad-hair-day culprits, matted hair can be the most stubborn and frustrating.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
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Spills can be blotted (never rubbed) with a dry cloth since the fabric is non-absorptive, and for more stubborn stains, dry cleaning is recommended.—
Zoë Sessums,
Architectural Digest,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The rebel run is the biggest of them all.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Humanitarian organizations estimate over 13 million people have been displaced by the fighting between the government’s military forces and the rebel RSF fighters, with famine and disease a by-product of the struggle for power.—
Rory Fleming,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Shrewd dealmaker Anutin has been a mainstay in Thai politics throughout years of turmoil, positioning his Bhumjaithai party strategically between warring elites embroiled in an intractable power struggle and guaranteeing its place in a succession of coalition governments.—
Panarat Thepgumpanat,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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And far too often, countries are plunged into intractable conflict that leads to regional instability with global implications.—
Jason Carter,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But to Hollywood, Pusser’s defiant story was irresistible.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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A day earlier, at his pre-match news conference, Pochettino sounded defensive and defiant.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This is, by far, the most common TES approach in industry, with most companies using legacy technologies like refractory bricks and molten salt to store heat in insulated shipping containers.—
Erik Kobayashi-Solomon,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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This is due to a rare condition called refractory celiac disease, which requires specialized treatment.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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Romania, meanwhile, has tried to right the ship after several wayward years of mismanagement at the Romanian Film Center, and a pile of unpaid debts from its cash rebate program that the government is finally close to settling in full.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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Jamie Lee Curtis continues her hot streak of buzzy performances as Ella’s aunt, with Woody Harrelson as her wayward father, plus Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri and Albert Brooks.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The main risk is that these batteries can overheat and go into thermal runaway, a chain reaction that occurs when a lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state—resulting in extremely high temperature, smoke and, ultimately, a fire that is notoriously difficult to put out.—
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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See a doctor if your bumps do not improve with home care or if the itching is uncontrollable.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recalcitrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recalcitrant. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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