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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refractory
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
All of the children had rare, relapsed or refractory cancers and were running out of treatment options.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for refractory
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
All of the children had rare, relapsed or refractory cancers and were running out of treatment options.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for refractory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refractory
Adjective
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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
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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
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The fizzing reaction can help remove stubborn residues.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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Celebrate The Tradition Of Red Dirt Music Stillwater is considered the home of Red Dirt music, a gritty blend of rebel country, bluegrass, rock, and storytelling.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 July 2025
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An Islamic State affiliate killed more than 40 churchgoers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a region already beset by government clashes with a separate rebel group.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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Whitmer and recalcitrant lawmakers deserve an equal share of the blame for the lame duck flameout.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
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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
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
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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
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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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In addition to the intense, sometimes uncontrollable itching, hives can also burn, sting and swell.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
23 July 2025
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The model can be hard to scale or standardize, particularly for agencies with diverse service offerings, and there’s the risk that comes with uncontrollable external factors hindering outcomes.—
Jacquelyn LaMar Berney,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Florent, the restaurant, stayed open until 2008, when the rent became unmanageable; the building sold a few years later for $8.6 million.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
11 July 2025
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The most common reasons revolve around work-life balance, a lack of support and an unmanageable workload.—
Drew Gerber,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refractory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refractory. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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