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
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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
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Recent Examples of recalcitrant
Bismarck had a reputation as a wily man who could potentially bring the recalcitrant Lower House to heel.
—
Christine Adams / Made By History, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
Still, this initial success against such a recalcitrant tumor has broader implications for using personalized mRNA vaccines to target other common tumors that have so far been resistant to other kinds of immunotherapy, Balachandran says.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2025
Considering that Crystal’s box office registers in the billions, what chance would the author have of getting a recalcitrant Crystal fired?
—Greg Carannante, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2025
Or does so only briefly in the ambiguous ending, when Sofia throws off the last vestiges of her passivity and forces her recalcitrant mother into a reckoning with her condition.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
Christine Adams / Made By History, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
Still, this initial success against such a recalcitrant tumor has broader implications for using personalized mRNA vaccines to target other common tumors that have so far been resistant to other kinds of immunotherapy, Balachandran says.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2025
Considering that Crystal’s box office registers in the billions, what chance would the author have of getting a recalcitrant Crystal fired?
—Greg Carannante, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2025
Or does so only briefly in the ambiguous ending, when Sofia throws off the last vestiges of her passivity and forces her recalcitrant mother into a reckoning with her condition.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recalcitrant
Adjective
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Aquarius: Justin Suarez Socially conscious and true fashionista, Justin’s creativity and free spirit very much align with Aquarius’ rebellious nature and sparkling individuality.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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It’s been 150 years since the Impressionists shocked Paris with their rebellious Société Anonyme show.—
Nazanin Lankarani,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Why Communication Training Often Fails To Stick Some people are very stubborn and stick to their communication style, even when confronted.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Traders do see the Fed cutting in June, but much can change between now and then, and a stubborn central bank could set off Trump again.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Plutarch, future Head Gamemaker of the 75th Hunger Games and commander of the rebel forces, is a young Capitol cameraman in this timeline who is tasked with documenting the tributes of District 12.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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The civil war in Sudan, between the government’s SAF and the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has just passed its grisly second anniversary.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But where others saw an intractable problem, Jean-François Archambault saw an opportunity.—
Afdhel Aziz,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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But since the end of the Cold War, there have been many more wars in which early successes faltered, lost momentum, or didn’t quite achieve enough, transforming the conflicts into something far more intractable.—
Lawrence D. Freedman,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, was defiant in remarks to reporters earlier Monday.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2025
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But when asked about the lack of norms and decorum in the current political climate and whether Democrats need to play on the same level, Himes was defiant.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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His experience gave me hope that instead of being given room to destroy, perhaps Maryland’s wayward youth would be given the discipline needed to succeed.—
Yuripzy Morgan,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Apr. 2025
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Refuse to seed in shame what Nature sows and choose what leaf and petal and wayward weed all know: grow.—
Cynthia Ozick,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Some means to understand things that are uncontrollable.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
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By systematically reviewing and understanding the distinction between controllable and uncontrollable factors, informed decisions that align with financial goals can be made, setting the stage for the future.—
Ira Walker,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recalcitrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recalcitrant. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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