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recalcitrant
adjective
Did you know?
Long before any human was dubbed "recalcitrant" in English (that first occurred in the 18th century), there were stubborn mules (and horses) kicking back their heels. The ancient Romans noted as much (Pliny the Elder among them), and they had a word for it: recalcitrare, which literally means "to kick back." (Its root calc-, meaning "heel," is also the root of calcaneus, the large bone of the heel in humans.) Certainly Roman citizens in Pliny's time were sometimes willful and hardheaded—as attested by various Latin words meaning "stubborn"—but it wasn't until later that writers of Late Latin applied recalcitrare and its derivative adjective to humans who were stubborn as mules.
Synonyms
unruly, ungovernable, intractable, refractory, recalcitrant, willful, headstrong mean not submissive to government or control.
unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.
ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.
intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.
refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.
recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.
willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.
headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.
Examples of recalcitrant in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recalcitrant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Late Latin recalcitrant-, recalcitrans, present participle of recalcitrare to be stubbornly disobedient, from Latin, to kick back, from re- + calcitrare to kick, from calc-, calx heel
1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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Cite this Entry
“Recalcitrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recalcitrant. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
recalcitrant
adjectiveMedical Definition
recalcitrant
adjectiveMore from Merriam-Webster on recalcitrant
Nglish: Translation of recalcitrant for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of recalcitrant for Arabic Speakers
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