English Explanatory Dictionary

refractory

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Obstinate and unruly; strongly opposed to something.
  2. Not affected by great heat.
  3. Resistant to treatment; not responding adequately to therapy.
  4. Incapable of registering a reaction or stimulus.
noun
  1. A material or piece of material, such as a brick, that has a very high melting point.
  2. A plant or factory that produces such material.

Pronunciation

/ɹɪˈfɹæk.təɹ.i/ en-us-refractory.ogg en-au-refractory.ogg

Word forms

refractory more refractory most refractory refractories

Etymology

From Latin refractārius (“obstinate”), from refrāctus, past participle of refringere (“to break up”). Originally refractary, refractarie, but reanalysed after other adjectives in -ory.

Synonyms

contrary fractious adamant ardent grim bent on bloody-minded bullheaded certain chronic confirmed determined diehard dogged hard-hearted hard-nosed hardheaded headstrong immovable incalcitrant inflexible irrefragable insistent intractable intransigent intrepid inveterate mulish obdurate obstinate obstreperous peevish peremptory persistent pertinacious pigheaded recalcitrant refractory resolute resolved rigid self-willed stalwart staunch steadfast steady stubborn stubborn as a mule sullen tenacious terminal thran thwart tough truculent unbending uncompromising unyielding vehement wilful

Related words

refractive refraction

Derived words

biorefractory chemorefractory electrorefractory nonrefractory photorefractory psychological refractory period refractorily refractoriness refractory anaemia with excess blasts refractory metal refractory period refractory rhyme unrefractory
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