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
Pulled along by Valérie like a recalcitrant puppy, Richard sets off on a quest to find the missing man, who may have ties to the Sicilian Mafia.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
Khamenei’s stance is at once recalcitrant and cautious to the point of cowardice.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 22 June 2025
And the recalcitrant public statements by Mr. Trump and members of his cabinet have raised questions about whether his administration is openly defying the Supreme Court’s instructions — and what, if anything, might be done about that.
—Alan Feuer, New York Times, 16 May 2025
In response, these recalcitrant members of Congress simply refused to adopt must-pass federal reapportionment legislation.
— Made By History, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
Khamenei’s stance is at once recalcitrant and cautious to the point of cowardice.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 22 June 2025
And the recalcitrant public statements by Mr. Trump and members of his cabinet have raised questions about whether his administration is openly defying the Supreme Court’s instructions — and what, if anything, might be done about that.
—Alan Feuer, New York Times, 16 May 2025
In response, these recalcitrant members of Congress simply refused to adopt must-pass federal reapportionment legislation.
— Made By History, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recalcitrant
Adjective
-
The chancellor is caught between febrile bond markets worried about government debt levels across advanced economies and rebellious Labour lawmakers who recently forced the government to pull back on reforms to welfare spending.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
22 July 2025
-
Once Audrey Hepburn was seen in a pair of the prototypical capri pants, everyone wanted to own them, and de Lennart’s hero product was later donned by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor: appreciated for its originally rebellious intentions and modern-woman appeal.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Beneath its surface were deep, dark scars—grooves cut through the rock by old lava flows, now overgrown with stubborn green.—
Tess Moormans,
Travel + Leisure,
27 July 2025
-
The fizzing reaction can help remove stubborn residues.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 July 2025
Adjective
-
The country is currently led by former rebel commander Ahmed al-Sharaa who was appointed transitional president last March, having acted as its de-facto leader following Al-Assad’s flight to Russia.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
16 July 2025
-
The president led 15,000 federalized militiamen from Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania into the west—though no rebel army materialized to oppose them.—
Time,
Time,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Successful solutions to other once intractable conflicts, such as the decades of sectarian and civil strife in Northern Ireland, show that enduring peace is possible only when all stakeholders are invited in.—
ZAHA HASSAN,
Foreign Affairs,
29 July 2025
-
Mathematicians soon used it to make progress on all sorts of previously intractable problems.—
Joseph Howlett,
Wired News,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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On Monday, asked about the poll proposal at an unrelated event, Adams was defiant.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
14 July 2025
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Trump's defiant response in Butler, Penn., may have fueled his big Election Day gains among male voters.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
This is due to a rare condition called refractory celiac disease, which requires specialized treatment.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
Thanks to the efforts of Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll course-correcting the wayward ship of Aston Martin Lagonda—nobody remembers the Lagonda part, not even AML—the brand's portfolio contains four core vehicles, with several derivatives like the Vantage S on their way.—
Alex Kalogiannis,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
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For decades, Latino activists have strained to inspire gang members to join el movimiento — not as stormtroopers but as wayward youngsters and veteranos who can leave la vida loca behind if only they become enlightened.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Owners are increasingly savvy about distinguishing between controllable and uncontrollable costs.—
Tyler Christiansen,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
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After doing so, Haley couldn't contain herself and broke out in uncontrollable laughter.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recalcitrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recalcitrant. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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