1
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
2
as in stubborn
given to resisting control or discipline by others
believing that rules are only for other people, he's been refractory virtually his entire life
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refractory
It is meant to treat only people with refractory myeloma.
—
Sarah Hudgens, Health, 23 Sep. 2024
Similar to refractory bricks, firebricks can store heat or insulate, depending on what they’re made from.
—New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2024
This current study extends the successful results previously published on the virus-free preparation of CD19-specific CAR T-cells against refractory B cell malignancies utilizing Applied DNA's Linea™ DNA.
—Kansas City Star, 13 May 2024
Marinus Pharmaceuticals said an experimental treatment for refractory status epilepticus failed to meet early stopping criteria for a Phase 3 study.
—Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 15 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for refractory
Sarah Hudgens, Health, 23 Sep. 2024
Similar to refractory bricks, firebricks can store heat or insulate, depending on what they’re made from.
—New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2024
This current study extends the successful results previously published on the virus-free preparation of CD19-specific CAR T-cells against refractory B cell malignancies utilizing Applied DNA's Linea™ DNA.
—Kansas City Star, 13 May 2024
Marinus Pharmaceuticals said an experimental treatment for refractory status epilepticus failed to meet early stopping criteria for a Phase 3 study.
—Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 15 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for refractory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refractory
Adjective
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The story follows Bárbara, rebellious and broke, who fakes her way into a convent for a private room and some peace—only to find herself on an unexpected spiritual journey.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
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The town’s rebellious spirit and dreamy beach backdrop attracted a who’s who in music, from Duke Ellington in the 1920s to Led Zeppelin, who skipped Woodstock in 1969 to play the Asbury Park Convention Hall.—
Jen Murphy,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Myth That Won’t Die: 'Nobody Scrolls' For years, there’s been this stubborn idea in web design that everything important has to be above the fold.—
Talie Smith,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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Detailing exactly how scientists made this new discovery, the study chronicles the case of a 34-year-old woman who arrived at the NIH Clinical Center with a stubborn skin tumor on her forehead.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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After all, in Andor, a rebel alliance pushes back against an emperor.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Aug. 2025
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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
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With Iranian power and influence waning, and with the challenges of an ascendant China and a recalcitrant Russia necessarily dominating the American national security agenda, indifference may appear to be the most appealing option for Washington.—
Suzanne Maloney,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
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In that case, the Saudis would bring greater pressure to be on their recalcitrant partners.—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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But New Delhi has been defiant, saying that Russian oil is necessary for the energy security of its 1.4 billion-strong population.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
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The character’s defiant self-possession would unnerve even a more contemporary patriarchy, and challenge family dynamics in any era.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Still, Iran’s distrust of Western countries and the endurance of the regime under dire circumstances mean that even this tool will have limited efficacy in terms of constraining an intractable Iranian leadership.—
Suzanne Maloney,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
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This presents a promising path for delivering systems with the large numbers of logical qubits necessary to solve today’s intractable problems.—
Paul Terry,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Adjective
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Nothing important happened, but something happened, sort of — something scary and uncontrollable.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2025
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It's been 28 years since the rage virus — a virulent, bloodborne infection that sends its hosts into extreme, uncontrollable rage and states of undead decay — escaped a lab and decimated nearly all of the United Kingdom, now under rigid quarantine.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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In fact, unfortunately, some organizations can even find themselves with extensive, unmanageable cloud environments and the same technical debt that plagued their on-premise counterparts.—
Harvendra Singh,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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Given the vast amounts of data generated by body cameras daily, automating video review has the potential to turn unmanageable archives into active insights.—
Logan Seacrest,
Boston Herald,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refractory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refractory. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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