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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of recalcitrant
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
This version of it will be complex, with significant power wielded by the United States and China but with major roles for other players, including an increasingly autonomous Europe, a recalcitrant Russia, and an ever more powerful India.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Pulled along by Valérie like a recalcitrant puppy, Richard sets off on a quest to find the missing man, who may have ties to the Sicilian Mafia.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
Khamenei’s stance is at once recalcitrant and cautious to the point of cowardice.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025
This version of it will be complex, with significant power wielded by the United States and China but with major roles for other players, including an increasingly autonomous Europe, a recalcitrant Russia, and an ever more powerful India.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Pulled along by Valérie like a recalcitrant puppy, Richard sets off on a quest to find the missing man, who may have ties to the Sicilian Mafia.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
Khamenei’s stance is at once recalcitrant and cautious to the point of cowardice.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recalcitrant
Adjective
-
In the Wild West, mavericks, often rebellious individuals — played enormous roles.—
Jim Martin,
Denver Post,
3 Aug. 2025
-
One character, Seldom Seen Slim, left behind his church upbringing to join Abbey’s rebellious ecoreligion, which gained converts among many extreme desert lovers who read his book.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Here’s the case for Scorpio: Wednesday is suss, secretive, brooding, vengeful and stubborn.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
For Baxter and the stubborn Scot, this marked, at last, the reality of war’s end.—
Charles Pellegrino,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
After all, in Andor, a rebel alliance pushes back against an emperor.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Aug. 2025
-
Martial law and a state of emergency would be imposed in more than 60 townships across nine regions and states due to the threat of violence and insurgency, the report said, many in border areas where the military is facing unprecedented resistance from rebel groups.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Now that would be a truly innovative solution for an issue that appears to be growing more and more intractable.—
Davia Temin,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Successful solutions to other once intractable conflicts, such as the decades of sectarian and civil strife in Northern Ireland, show that enduring peace is possible only when all stakeholders are invited in.—
ZAHA HASSAN,
Foreign Affairs,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
In its 56th edition, the photography festival, running until 5th October, embraces the provocatively defiant theme Disobedient Images, under the directorship of Christoph Wiesner.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Even postgrads, navigating early adulthood in a shifting economic landscape, leaned into the aesthetic, dressing with a kind of defiant playfulness that pushed back against the pressure to look older.—
Alexandra Jane,
Essence,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
This is due to a rare condition called refractory celiac disease, which requires specialized treatment.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
-
The study found that women account for 3.4 percent of the construction labor force and 4 percent for industrial and refractory machinery mechanics.—
Ashley Fredde,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Even loyal fans may take occasional issue with a feature that’s by turns absurdist, philosophical, violent, wayward, satirical and baffling.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
3 Aug. 2025
-
Deborah Sengupta Stith moved to Austin as a wayward liberal arts graduate in the ‘90s and promptly fell into the city’s music scene.—
Deborah Sengupta Stith,
Austin American Statesman,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to the intense, sometimes uncontrollable itching, hives can also burn, sting and swell.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
23 July 2025
-
The model can be hard to scale or standardize, particularly for agencies with diverse service offerings, and there’s the risk that comes with uncontrollable external factors hindering outcomes.—
Jacquelyn LaMar Berney,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recalcitrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recalcitrant. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share