recalcitrant

Meanings

Adjective

• Marked by a stubborn unwillingness to obey authority.
• Unwilling to cooperate socially.
• Difficult to deal with or to operate.
• Not viable for an extended period; damaged by drying or freezing.

Noun

• A person who is recalcitrant.

Related

Similar words

• argumentative, disobedient
• stubborn, unruly, adversarial, obstreperous, intransigent

Opposite words

• compliant, obedient
• amenable, cooperative, eager
• orthodox

Origin

• Borrowed from French récalcitrant, from Latin recalcitrans, present participle of recalcitro, from calx, 1820s.