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 president’s biggest tool has been his willingness to impose high tariffs or punitive sanctions on the recalcitrant parties, showing that the United States’ vast economic power can be as useful as its military might in ending sticky conflicts.
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Robert C. O’Brien, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2025
Ukraine has seen Europe step financially and militarily into the void left by America, and then seen the same recalcitrant White House offer them its best missiles.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
William meanwhile remained recalcitrant.
—Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Congress remains recalcitrant to gun reform even after the gruesome scenes at Parkland, Uvalde, and Sandy Hook.
—John J. Donohue, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recalcitrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recalcitrant
Adjective
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Prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, slavery was the law in the rebellious states.—
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This wretched regime is doomed to be overthrown by the risen populace and rebellious youth.—
Adjective
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These two ingredients mixed together creates a powerful mixture perfect for lifting stubborn stains off grout because of their high cleaning and brightening properties.—
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The vinegar cleaning method isn’t foolproof, and sometimes stubborn residue can remain on your microwave walls.—
Adjective
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Two men are targeted by the rebel army who overthrew the government of Colonel Jacobo Arbenz Guzman.—
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He was denounced by rebel propagandists as a tyrant and remembered by Americans as a reactionary dolt.—
Adjective
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The debate over wolves may seem like an intractable clash of values.—
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Still, intractable issues remain.—
Adjective
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Vice President Delcy Rodriguez initially was angry and defiant.—
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Venezuela’s interim leader, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, has alternated between taking a conciliatory approach towards Washington and striking a defiant tone.—
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.—
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This is due to a rare condition called refractory celiac disease, which requires specialized treatment.—
Adjective
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Diaz obliged, but not before smacking an unlucky onlooker with a wayward first attempt, above.—
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Helman’s surprise emergence was one of few offensive bright spots in an otherwise wayward season last year.—
Adjective
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Leaders often blame uncontrollable factors—policies of previous administrations, hiring for a boom that fizzled unexpectedly, macroeconomic uncertainty, the rise of artificial intelligence—but all too often the real strategic issues go unaddressed.—
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The phenomenon of cavitation—the formation and collapse of tiny gas bubbles due to changes in pressure—was considered an undesirable and largely uncontrollable side effect.—
Cite this Entry
“Recalcitrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recalcitrant. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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