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recalcitrant

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of recalcitrant

1 given to resisting authority or anotherʼs control
  • the manager worried that the recalcitrant employee would try to undermine his authority
Synonyms of recalcitrant

balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recusant, refractory, restive, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)
Words Related to recalcitrant

noncooperative, uncooperative

insurgent, mutinous

adamant, adamantine, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, negativistic, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding

fractious, restive, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild

perverse, resistant, wrongheaded

bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, monkeying, monkeyish, naughty

undisciplined

dissident, nonconformist

discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly
Near Antonyms of recalcitrant

acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging

yielding

behaved, disciplined, well-bred

courteous, polite, respectful

kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient

decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper

controllable, governable, manageable, trainable
Antonyms of recalcitrant

amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable
2 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
Synonyms of recalcitrant

froward, headstrong, incontrollable, intractable, refractory, uncontrollable, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)
Words Related to recalcitrant

bullheaded, contrary, difficult, hardheaded, incorrigible, intransigent, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, perverse, pigheaded, self-willed, stiff, stiff-necked, stubborn

undisciplined, unpunished

uncontrolled, wild

boisterous, irrepressible, rambunctious, rowdy

disobedient, indocile, insubordinate, rebellious

misbehaving, naughty
Phrases Synonymous with recalcitrant

out of hand
Near Antonyms of recalcitrant

docile, obedient, well-behaved

compliant, placable, pliable, submissive, yielding

accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing

reasonable, temperate, trainable
Antonyms of recalcitrant

controllable, governable, manageable, tractable

Synonym Discussion of recalcitrant

unruly, ungovernable, intractable, refractory, recalcitrant, willful, headstrong mean not submissive to government or control. unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.
    • unruly children
ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.
    • ungovernable rage
intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.
    • intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump
refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.
    • special schools for refractory children
recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.
    • acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace
willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.
    • a willful disregard for the rights of others
headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.
    • a headstrong young cavalry officer

Learn More about recalcitrant

  1. Dictionary: Definition of recalcitrant Medical Dictionary: Definition of recalcitrant Spanish Central: Translation of recalcitrant Nglish: Translation of recalcitrant for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of recalcitrant for Arabic speakers

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