adjective

recalcitrant

ri-KAL-si-truhnt

Recalcitrant (adjective) means Stubbornly refusing to obey authority, follow rules or cooperate, even under pressure. Example: “A handful of recalcitrant members refused to sign the agreement.”

adjective

Stubbornly refusing to obey authority, follow rules or cooperate, even under pressure.

"A handful of recalcitrant members refused to sign the agreement."

"She was a recalcitrant pupil who spent more time outside the head's office than in class."

Of a thing or material: resistant to being handled, treated or worked with.

"The recalcitrant lock finally gave way to a squirt of oil."

"Recalcitrant seeds cannot be dried and frozen for storage."

noun

formal A person who refuses to comply.

"The committee had no sanctions to use against recalcitrants."

How to use recalcitrant

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRefusing to do what you are told, however much you are pushed.

When to use it

Formal; common in journalism, law and management writing.

Memory tip

The noun form is recalcitrance.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

reluctant → intransigent → obstinate → truculent →

Common pairings

recalcitrant employee recalcitrant states prove recalcitrant recalcitrant debtor

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A handful of _____ members refused to sign the agreement.

Etymology

From Latin recalcitrare 'to kick back', from re- 'back' and calx, calcis 'heel' — originally used of mules kicking out against the rider.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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uncooperative defiant obstinate intractable unruly refractory stubborn resistant unyielding

Antonyms

compliant docile obedient amenable

Related words

hard anti wild soft opposed tight document sensitive

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between recalcitrant and stubborn?

Stubborn describes anyone who will not change their mind about anything. Recalcitrant specifically involves resisting authority, instruction or control, so it needs someone or something to be defying. A recalcitrant employee defies management; a stubborn one may simply prefer their own way.

What is the difference between recalcitrant and reluctant?

Reluctant means unwilling but usually still doing the thing. Recalcitrant means actively refusing and resisting. A reluctant witness testifies badly; a recalcitrant witness does not testify at all.

How do you pronounce recalcitrant?

ri-KAL-si-truhnt, with the stress on the second syllable. The c in the middle is a hard k sound.

What is the meaning of recalcitrant?

"recalcitrant" (adjective) means stubbornly refusing to obey authority, follow rules or cooperate, even under pressure.

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