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
The first two questions would streamline approvals for housing developments, while the third would establish an Affordable Housing Appeals Board that could override a recalcitrant City Council.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 July 2025
Whitmer and recalcitrant lawmakers deserve an equal share of the blame for the lame duck flameout.
—M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
The United States has long sought to deport immigrants to third countries when their own home nation is recalcitrant or won't accept their own deportees.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 July 2025
Whitmer and recalcitrant lawmakers deserve an equal share of the blame for the lame duck flameout.
—M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
The United States has long sought to deport immigrants to third countries when their own home nation is recalcitrant or won't accept their own deportees.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recalcitrant
Adjective
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The third book in the Luna Sisters series follows the journey to love for the youngest and most rebellious Luna sister, Gabriela.—
Mia Sosa,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady (McGraw) is now 14, a rebellious teenager living under Gemma’s overprotective rules.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Viewers were quick to point out the hilarity of the dog's stubborn protest, with many suggesting that the dachshund had already claimed permanent rights to the bed.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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The stubborn myth that Jews are too safe to be targets is colliding with a painful new reality.—
Andrew Weinstein,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Offering a complete range of tailored clothing, leather jackets, footwear, and accessories, JV denotes the taste of high fashion with a rebel aesthetic.—
Cassell Ferere,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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The rebel run is the biggest of them all.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The challenges have also stirred strong emotions, as advocates take two different approaches to solving what can seem like an intractable problem.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Sep. 2025
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Shrewd dealmaker Anutin has been a mainstay in Thai politics throughout years of turmoil, positioning his Bhumjaithai party strategically between warring elites embroiled in an intractable power struggle and guaranteeing its place in a succession of coalition governments.—
Panarat Thepgumpanat,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But to Hollywood, Pusser’s defiant story was irresistible.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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A day earlier, at his pre-match news conference, Pochettino sounded defensive and defiant.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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This is due to a rare condition called refractory celiac disease, which requires specialized treatment.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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Major General Pavel Muraveiko, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in Belarus, said in a statement on Telegram that Belarus had also destroyed wayward drones over its territory.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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Romania, meanwhile, has tried to right the ship after several wayward years of mismanagement at the Romanian Film Center, and a pile of unpaid debts from its cash rebate program that the government is finally close to settling in full.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The main risk is that these batteries can overheat and go into thermal runaway, a chain reaction that occurs when a lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state—resulting in extremely high temperature, smoke and, ultimately, a fire that is notoriously difficult to put out.—
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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See a doctor if your bumps do not improve with home care or if the itching is uncontrollable.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recalcitrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recalcitrant. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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