English Explanatory Dictionary

recalcitrant

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Marked by a stubborn unwillingness to obey authority.
  2. Unwilling to cooperate socially.
  3. Difficult to deal with or to operate.
  4. Not viable for an extended period; damaged by drying or freezing.
noun
  1. A person who is recalcitrant.

Pronunciation

/ɹɪˈkæl.sɪ.tɹənt/ en-au-recalcitrant.ogg

Word forms

recalcitrant more recalcitrant most recalcitrant recalcitrants

Etymology

Borrowed from French récalcitrant, from Latin recalcitrāns, recalcitrantis, present participle of recalcitrō, recalcitrāre (“be disobedient, kick back [as a horse]”), from calx (“heel”), 1820s.

Synonyms

argumentative defiant disobedient rebellious stubborn unruly adversarial obstreperous intransigent

Antonyms

compliant obedient amenable cooperative eager orthodox

Derived words

biorecalcitrant recalcitrance recalcitrancy recalcitrantly
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