recalcitrant

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: re=cal=ci=trant

CIDE DICTIONARY

recalcitrant, a. [L. recalcitrans, p. pr. of recalcitrare to kick back; pref. re- re- + calcitrare to kick, fr. calx heel. Cf. Inculcate.].

 Kicking back; recalcitrating; hence, showing repugnance or opposition; refractory.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

recalcitrant, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 obstinately disobedient.
2 objecting to restraint.
--n. a recalcitrant person.

Derivative

recalcitrance n. recalcitrantly adv.

Etymology

L recalcitrare (as RE-, calcitrare kick out with the heels f. calx calcis heel)

THESAURUS

recalcitrant

adamant, adversary, adversative, adverse, alien, antagonistic, anti, antipathetic, antithetic, at odds, averse, beyond control, bouncing, bounding, breachy, breakaway, clashing, competitive, complaining, con, conflicting, contradicting, contradictory, contrary, contumacious, counter, counteractant, counteracting, counteractive, countervailing, counterworking, cranky, cross, crotchety, cursory, defiant, deviant, differing, disaccordant, disagreeing, disinclined, disobedient, disputatious, disputing, dissentient, dissenting, dissident, enemy, firm, forced, fractious, headstrong, hostile, immovable, impatient of control, incorrigible, indisposed, indocile, indomitable, inflexible, inimical, insubordinate, insuppressible, intractable, involuntary, irrepressible, mutinous, negative, nonconformable, nonconforming, nonconformist, noncooperative, nonobservant, objecting, obstinate, obstreperous, obstructive, on the barricades, opponent, opposed, opposing, opposite, oppositional, oppositive, oppugnant, ornery, out of hand, overthwart, perfunctory, perverse, proof against, protesting, reactionary, reactionist, rebellious, rebounding, recoiling, recusant, refractory, reluctant, renitent, repellent, repercussive, repugnant, resilient, resistant, resisting, resistive, restive, retardant, retardative, revolutionary, rival, shrewish, springing, stiff, stubborn, sulky, sullen, unadaptable, unadjustable, unbending, unbiddable, uncompliant, unconforming, unconsenting, uncontrollable, uncooperative, undisciplined, unfavorable, unfriendly, ungovernable, unmalleable, unmanageable, unmoldable, unpropitious, unruly, unsubmissive, untoward, unwilling, unyielding, up in arms, wayward, wild, withstanding

ROGET THESAURUS

recalcitrant

Resistance

N resistance, stand, front, oppugnation, oppugnancy, opposition, renitence, renitency, reluctation, recalcitration, kicking, repulse, rebuff, insurrection, strike, turn out, lock out, barring out, levee en masse, Jacquerie, riot, resisting, resistive, resistant, refractory, recalcitrant, renitent, up in arms, repulsive, repellant, proof against, unconquerable, stubborn, unconquered, indomitable, unyielding, Int, hands off!, keep off!.

Disobedience

N disobedience, insubordination, contumacy, infraction, infringement, violation, noncompliance, nonobservance, revolt, rebellion, mutiny, outbreak, rising, uprising, insurrection, emeute, riot, tumult, strike, barring out, defiance, mutinousness, mutineering, sedition, treason, high treason, petty treason, misprision of treason, premunire, lese majeste, violation of law, defection, secession, insurgent, mutineer, rebel, revolter, revolutionary, rioter, traitor, quisling, carbonaro, sansculottes, red republican, bonnet rouge, communist, Fenian, frondeur, seceder, secessionist, runagate, renegade, brawler, anarchist, demagogue, Spartacus, Masaniello, Wat Tyler, Jack Cade, ringleader, disobedient, uncomplying, uncompliant, unsubmissive, unruly, ungovernable, breachy, insubordinate, impatient of control, incorrigible, restiff, restive, refractory, contumacious, recusant, recalcitrant, resisting, lawless, mutinous, seditions, insurgent, riotous, unobeyed, unbidden, seditiosissimus quisque ignavus, unthread the rude eye of rebellion.

Recoil

N recoil, reaction, retroaction, revulsion, bounce, rebound, ricochet, repercussion, recalcitration, kick, contrecoup, springing back, elasticity, reflection, reflexion, reflex, reflux, reverberation, rebuff, repulse, return, ducks and drakes, boomerang, spring, reactionist, elastic collision, coefficient of restitution, recoiling, refluent, repercussive, recalcitrant, reactionary, retroactive, on the rebound, on the recoil, for every action there is a reaction, equal in force and opposite in direction.