The meaning of RECALCITRANT is obstinately defiant of authority or restraint : stubbornly uncooperative or disobedient. How to use recalcitrant in a sentence. Did you know? Synonym …

RECALCITRANT definition: resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; refractory. See examples of recalcitrant used in a sentence.

RECALCITRANT definition: 1. (of a person) unwilling to obey orders or to do what should be done, or (of an animal) refusing…. Learn more.

Dec 8, 2025 · recalcitrant (comparative more recalcitrant, superlative most recalcitrant) His nimble fancy was recalcitrant to mental discipline. There was something in her manner so reminiscent …

Definition of recalcitrant adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. unwilling to obey rules or follow instructions; difficult to control. He was like a teacher encouraging a …

Factsheet What does the word recalcitrant mean? There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the word recalcitrant. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Recalcitrant is from Latin calcitrare, meaning "to kick," so someone who is recalcitrant is kicking back against what's wanted of them. Synonyms are unruly, intractable, and refractory, all …

If you describe someone or something as recalcitrant, you mean that they are unwilling to obey orders or are difficult to deal with.

hard to deal with, manage, or operate: a recalcitrant machine. refractory. hard to deal with, manage, or operate. n. a recalcitrant person. re•cal′ci•trance, re•cal′ci•tran•cy, n. 1. resistant, …

Recalcitrant definition: Stubbornly resistant to or defiant of authority or guidance.