REFRACTORY Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'refractory' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of refractory are headstrong , intractable , recalcitrant , ungovernable , unruly , and willful . While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold. // special schools for refractory children

Q: When can 'headstrong' be used instead of 'refractory'?

The words headstrong and refractory can be used in similar contexts, but headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion. // a headstrong young cavalry officer

Q: Where would 'intractable' be a reasonable alternative to 'refractory'?

While in some cases nearly identical to refractory , intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control. // intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

Q: When would 'recalcitrant' be a good substitute for 'refractory'?

Although the words recalcitrant and refractory have much in common, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority. // acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

Q: In what contexts can 'ungovernable' take the place of 'refractory'?

The meanings of ungovernable and refractory largely overlap; however, 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

Q: When is 'unruly' a more appropriate choice than 'refractory'?

The synonyms unruly and refractory are sometimes interchangeable, but unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior. // unruly children

Q: When could 'willful' be used to replace 'refractory'?

The words willful and refractory are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way. // a willful disregard for the rights of others

refractory

adjective

ri-ˈfrak-t(ə-)rē

Definition of refractory

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control refractory players will be ejected from the game

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in recalcitrant

given to resisting control or discipline by others believing that rules are only for other people, he's been refractory virtually his entire life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective refractory differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of refractory are headstrong, intractable, recalcitrant, ungovernable, unruly, and willful. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

When can headstrong be used instead of refractory?

The words headstrong and refractory can be used in similar contexts, but headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

Where would intractable be a reasonable alternative to refractory?

While in some cases nearly identical to refractory, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

When would recalcitrant be a good substitute for refractory?

Although the words recalcitrant and refractory have much in common, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

In what contexts can ungovernable take the place of refractory?

The meanings of ungovernable and refractory largely overlap; however, 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

When is unruly a more appropriate choice than refractory?

The synonyms unruly and refractory are sometimes interchangeable, but unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

When could willful be used to replace refractory?

The words willful and refractory are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

a willful disregard for the rights of others

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 refractory These warm hundreds of tonnes of refractory bricks to temperatures up to 1,500 °C. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2025 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 This is due to a rare condition called refractory celiac disease, which requires specialized treatment. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 July 2025 While cannabinoids offer a potential alternative for refractory chronic pain, optimal use requires personalized dosing and further high-quality trials targeting specific pain subtypes. — Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for refractory

Recent Examples of Synonyms for refractory

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

Brian is a gee-whiz irritant, with a reckless attachment to the family’s conveniently recalcitrant dog and a knack for making dangerous situations worse.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Part of the problem is that, outside of their tenants’ pleas, landlords face neither any real pressure nor any legal requirement to install shutters and ceiling fans; even owners who want to do so are thwarted by recalcitrant co-op boards or finicky historic-preservation reviews.

— Henry Grabar, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026

Definition of recalcitrant

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

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

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

Such victories accustomed many Americans to imagining that their skilled leaders could break seemingly intractable political deadlocks in decisive ways.

— Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2026
The intractable part could be the very thing that gives our lives meaning.

— Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of intractable

Adjective

To sleep, no more Two scientists who identified the role that a key neuropeptide plays in the uncontrollable sleepiness of narcolepsy were one of three recipients of the prestigious Lasker Awards, announced Thursday.

— O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026
The engineer abruptly resigned after refusing to contribute to a reckless corporate competition that could ultimately lead to uncontrollable AI.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of uncontrollable

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refractoriness

refractory

refrain

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

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Synonyms of refractory

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